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Prep Ice Hockey and Chiropractic: A Relationship That's Not on Thin Ice

Reviewed by: Dr. Steven Knauf, D.C.

By: Paul Rothbart

Prep-Ice-Hockey-and-Chiropractic-A-Relationship-That's-Not-on-Thin-Ice

Over the years, Canada has sent us some great gifts poutine, Canadian bacon, and Molson's Golden. When it comes to sports, Canada's greatest export is undoubtedly hockey. The National Hockey League (NHL) now has teams in cities where ice was once only used for cooling drinks, such as Boston, Miami, Dallas, and Los Angeles, to name a few. Even Las Vegas, known for its hot desert climate, boasts an NHL team.

Hockey's popularity exploded in the U.S. in the 1990s, especially at the high school level, where both boys and girls hit the ice. While many dream of raising the Stanley Cup or winning Olympic gold, the most important thing is that they're having fun. And there are more high school hockey players than you might think.

We understand how physically demanding hockey can be on young bodies. Let's explore ways to help young skaters stay healthy and perform their best in youth leagues or high school teams.

What are the most common injuries in high school ice hockey?

With players moving at high speeds on skates, bodychecking, a surface surrounded by boards and plexiglass, and a six-ounce disk of frozen rubber flying around at blinding speeds, you bet there are many ways to get hurt playing hockey. As in every sport, some injuries in hockey are more common than others.

Most frequent injuries among high school players

High school hockey players wear the same padding and helmets as their professional counterparts and a full face mask attached to the helmet. Goaltenders, of course, wear additional padding. Despite this protection, some injuries happen frequently.

Concussions: Every contact sport involves the risk of a blow to the head, and hockey is no different. Head contact with an opponent's body, the boards, or the ice can cause a concussion despite the protection of a helmet. This is a serious injury,y and extra care must be taken in preventing and treating concussions.

Shoulder injuries: Most bodychecks have the player leading with the shoulder and driving against an opponent's chest. Slams into the boards usually happen when the shoulder hits the surface. Combine that with the stress on the joint while shooting the puck, and shoulder injuries become more frequent. Separations and torn labrums are very common.

Broken collarbones: Collarbones are vulnerable to collisions and are sometimes struck with a stick or puck. Fractures and breaks often result.

Elbow injuries: Shooting and passing the puck can stress the elbow joint. Overuse injuries such as bursitis are common. When a player puts their arm out to cushion a fall, the elbow may be hyperextended.

Knee injuries: The knee is a complex joint that works hard when a player is skating, stopping, starting, and hitting and getting hit. Ligament and meniscus strains and tears, such as ACL injuries, are as common in hockey as they are in other sports.

Lower back injuries: There probably isn't a sport in existence that isn't hard on the lower back. Everyday life can cause injuries to that part of the body. Strains pulled muscles, and subluxations in the lower back are very common for hockey players.

Hip labrum injuries: The hips work hard when a player is skating and are involved in many collisions, especially hip checks. The labrum can be strained, inflamed, or, in some cases, torn. This is a painful injury that takes considerable time to heal.

Groin injuries: The lower body goes through extreme motions during a hockey game. Goaltenders, in particular, contort themselves to keep the puck out of the net. Groin pulls, tears, and sports hernias are other common hockey injuries.

Ankle sprains and fractures: Skating is not hard on the ankles, but being hit can twist them and cause a sprain. The boot of a hockey skate has no padding, and taking a hard shot off the ankle can fracture or break it.

Common differences in injuries between boys and girls

There are some outstanding female hockey players, and one only has to watch an international match between the U.S. and Canada's women's teams to confirm this. High school girls can play, but the physical differences between boys and girls do make each gender more susceptible to certain injuries.

Boys generally tend to play with more aggression and physicality. Contact is more frequent and more intense. This makes them more prone to fractures and concussions.

Because of their wider hip structure, the strain on girls lower bodies makes them more prone to knee strains and tears. Understanding these differences can help coaches and parents take the necessary steps to reduce the risk of injuries in male and female players.

How chiropractic can help prevent and treat ice hockey injuries

In the battle to prevent injuries to hockey players, chiropractic care can be a potent weapon. Spinal adjustments can improve posture and balance, essential to playing well and avoiding injury.

Chiropractic treatments also address the joint issues that plague many players. This can help prevent strains and tears. The holistic approach of chiropractic gets the entire body working together as designed. Regular treatments combined with a strength and conditioning program can go a long way toward keeping players healthy and on the ice.

In terms of treating hockey injuries, chiropractic can be very helpful. Spinal and joint adjustments can help reduce inflammation and lead to reduced pain. Treatments may lead to faster recovery time and get the young athlete back into the game more quickly.

How does chiropractic care benefit the performance of ice hockey players?

Chiropractic care has helped many great athletes perform at their best legendary players like Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, and Tiger Woods credit chiropractic for their incredible careers.

When it comes to hockey, no less than The Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leading scorer, received chiropractic treatments. Every team in the league has chiropractors on its medical staff. That means Alex Ovechkin, should he surpass Gretzky's career goals total, will have done so with the help of chiropractic care.

A misaligned spine can have a seriously negative impact on a player's power output and mobility. Adjustments to the spine and joints improve the range of motion. This can help a player be faster, more explosive, more powerful, and more durable. In other words, it can help them be great. And if it can help the legends, it can help high school players, too.

FAQs for high school ice hockey players and parents

How often should ice hockey players see a chiropractor?

The frequency with which a high school player should see a chiropractor depends on that individual's unique needs. A chiropractor can help parents decide how often to bring their high school skater in for an adjustment. Most athletes see the chiropractor every week or every other week.

Are there differences in chiropractic needs for boys and girls?

Given their play style and physiology differences, boys and girls are more prone to different injuries. Chiropractic treatments should be tailored to their needs. Chiropractors do this with their patients, so parents needn't worry. Boy or girl, your teen hockey player will get the specific care they require.

How popular is high school ice hockey?

Hockey has come a long way since 1942, when the NHL had only six teams- four in the Northern U.S. and two in Canada. As the league spread through more regions and cities in America, high school hockey programs began popping up, with students of both genders eager to play this exciting sport.

Growth of ice hockey in U.S. high schools

Kids start out playing sports in their environment. Urban children play stickball and touch football in the streets and schoolyards while their country cousins take to pastures and fields. Basketball hoops are all over playgrounds and above garages. Hockey is unique in that it requires ice. You can play street hockey or roller hockey, but if you can't skate, you won't be able to play it on ice.

Areas with cold winters provide frozen ponds; New England, Upstate New York, and the Great Lakes states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have traditionally led the way with high school hockey programs.

One of the most significant events in the growth of high school hockey in non-traditional areas occurred in 1988 when The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, went from Edmonton to Los Angeles and joined the NHL's Kings. Suddenly, a city, somewhat indifferent to its pro hockey team, embraced them. A few years later, hockey expanded to nearby Anaheim, giving Southern California two teams.

USA hockey spread to other warm-weather areas. Northern California, Arizona, Florida, and even Texas and Nevada landed NHL teams that inspired local kids to want to play. Communities built rinks and started youth hockey leagues. When the players hit their teens, they wanted to represent their schools on the ice, and high school hockey grew.

In the 2023-24 school year, more than 1,600 high schools had nearly 33,000 boys playing hockey on their teams, while 785 schools had more than 9,000 girls skating for their schools. Those aren't football or basketball numbers, but they are significantly higher than when Gretzky headed south.

Which states have the most high school ice hockey programs?

Although high school hockey has spread throughout the nation, the states that have been traditional hotbeds for the sport still lead the way in having the most high school ice hockey programs.

Minnesota: Not surprisingly, the Gopher State is at the top of the list. With its proximity to Canada, long cold winters, and 10,000 lakes, there is no shortage of ice. Many young Minnesotans learn to skate as soon as they can walk. Sometimes called The State of Hockey, Minnesota has over 200 boys and 150 girls teams.

Massachusetts: It gets cold in the Bay State, which ranks second in high school hockey programs. With the Boston Bruins, an NHL Original Six franchise, to inspire them, many Massachusetts teen boys and girls take to the ice to represent their schools. The state has more than 100 schools that have boys and girls' teams.

Michigan: The Great Lakes State once ran a tourism campaign with the slogan Water Winter Wonderland. If that's not a formula for hockey, I don't know what is. With plenty of ice available and the Original Six Detroit Red Wings for inspiration, Michigan is third in the nation in high school hockey programs, with over 100 schools fielding boys' and girls' teams.

Other states have a long tradition of high school hockey. Vermont and New Hampshire have plenty of ice in upper New England, and Wisconsin also has its share of high school programs. Rochester and Buffalo, in the cold stretch of Western New York, also have plenty of high school hockey. The City of New York doesn't have as much high school hockey, but the New York Metro Junior Hockey League, founded by the Original Six New York Rangers, has been a place for young up-and-coming players to hone their game. It still operates as part of the Eastern League.

Partners in health and hockey

Hockey is a fast and exciting sport that is as fun to play as it is to watch. Over the years, it has grown in popularity in high schools nationwide. Thousands of boys and girls take to the ice each winter to play for their schools.

The Joint Chiropractic has clinics all over the U.S., so we are your neighbors and your partner in healthcare. Bring in your high school hockey player for an exam and adjustment. You may find that they are at less risk for injury and play to the best of their ability. If it worked for The Great One, it could help future great ones.

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