Ice hockey is widely regarded as one of the fastest and most dangerous sports in the world.
The game requires a unique combination of speed, power, and teamwork, and is played at a pace that makes it impossible to fully protect yourself from injury.
And although injury patterns differ by age group, gender, and level of play, the following injuries to the foot and ankle occur more often than others.
High Ankle Sprains
Although the height of the skate offers protection against a typical ankle sprain, the high speeds and rapid directional changes that occur while skating place the ankle at risk for high ankle sprains.
These sprains typically occur when the ankle rolls outward and stretches or tears the ligaments connecting the two leg bones (tibia and fibula) at the ankle. These ligaments are called syndesmotic ligaments, and when not injured, they only permit a small amount of movement between the two bones when skating.
It can be very difficult to quickly return to on-ice activity following a high ankle sprain as the area is not only more exposed and less protected than the lower area in which a normal ankle sprain occurs, but also due to the fact that the blood supply to the syndesmotic ligaments is poor, which slows down the rate of healing.
The initial treatment for high ankle sprains is to follow the standard RICE protocol (Rest, Icing, Compression, and Elevation) as immediate measures to reduce swelling often prove to be beneficial.
Lace Bite
Lace bite, also known as skate bite, is a painful condition that affects the tendons in the top of the foot, often as the result of a new pair of skates being worn for the first few times.
This condition is caused by too much pressure from a stiff skate tongue that has not been broken in well, or in old skates which have old and inflexible skate tongues. An inflexible skate tongue puts extra pressure over the anterior of the ankle and presses against the front part of the ankle and its tendons.
At first, you may not even feel pain or discomfort after warming up. However, after playing, the ankle and foot will swell and become painful. The repeated motion of these tendons rubbing against a tight skate tongue can cause inflammation of the main tendon, and eventually, tendinitis.
In order to avoid lace bite, make sure you take time to adequately break in new skates, transitioning slowly into to new skates instead of all at once. If your skate tongue is too stiff, consider adding extra cushion under the tongue and laces.
Foot Fractures
Although the foot is one of the most protected areas during a hockey game, foot injuries still occur frequently on the ice. Foot fractures account for the majority of these injuries, often as the result of impact by the puck or stick.
When these fractures are not displaced, it is sometimes possible for players to continue playing while receiving treatment. Treatment for these fractures typically consists of four to eight weeks of immobilization, depending on the injury.
Toe fractures, although not as common as foot fractures due to the hard toe of the skate, occur occasionally due to direct trauma from a puck or stick. Treatment of non-displaced toe fractures consists of immobilization splinting to the neighboring toe with tape, felt or prefabricated splints. If the fracture is displaced, recovery typically takes several weeks.
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16244 S. Military Trail #290, Delray Beach, FL 33445
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