Chicago – October, 2019 – Hockey is a contact, or rather, collision sport. While hockey-related back injuries may not be the biggest concern for most hockey players, they are considered an injury that can keep you out of the game for the longest, if the player is not careful.

Common Back Injuries

While the types of back-related injuries among professionals have stayed constant, the number of players who experience back pain appears to be increasing over time.

Athletes often specialize in one sport, which means the body and muscles are only exposed to one type of movements and not others. As a result, there is more stress, and wear and tear of those muscles and tissues.
Whether you are a professional or just beginning to play, it’s important to be aware of these common injuries.

Muscle Strains

The most common causes of back pain are lower back muscle strains and sprains. Hockey players often suffer from these due to the mechanical movements involved in the sport, such as bending and twisting. This results in muscle fibers being abnormally stretched or torn, causing pain and mobility limitations.

Stress Fracture (Spondylolysis)

A stress fracture may occur in one or more vertebrae in the lower back. This injury often results from overuse and repetitive activities. A small crack may appear in the bone due to excessive stress in the area. Common symptoms are general pain, pain with movement, swelling, and tenderness in the area.

Herniated Disc

Intervertebral discs are soft cushions between the small bones of your spine (vertebrae). They serve as shock absorbers and allow the spinal column to remain flexible. When the discs deteriorate, they become vulnerable to bulging and herniation. These conditions may cause a part or contents of the disc to move out of place and press upon a nearby spinal nerve.

Herniated discs in the low back and neck are the most common. Symptoms include low back or neck pain that radiates into the leg or arm, along with weakness and/or numbness.
Symptoms of herniated discs often develop with age, and are more prevalent in ylder players and professionals.

Treatment for Injuries

When a player is injured, it’s recommended that they should undergo a thorough medical evaluation, including imaging tests, such as MRI or X-Ray. This helps in an accurate diagnosis of the condition and determining the appropriate treatment options.

For conditions, such as mild back pain or muscle strains, surgery is not required. In such cases, treatment would typically involve physical therapy, rest, and anti-inflammatory medication. You can expect to be out of the game for at least a couple of days, but this time may get prolonged, depending on how your body responds to treatment and the rate at which it heals.

In serious cases, such as herniated discs, a surgical procedure, known as a microdiscectomy may be required. It involves a lengthier recovery period of 10-12 weeks. However, you can expect to return to your game at the same level you were used to, before the injury.

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