Strategies can help to play hockey safely

From peewees to the pros as well as the 2018 Winter Olympics, this is the heart of hockey season. Although some may consider it a risky sport for injuries, Dr. Michael Stuart, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon, says smart play and top-notch training can lower the odds of getting hurt.

Stuart knows hockey and its athletes’ health better than most. He’s the chief medical and safety officer for USA Hockey, an organization with more than a half million amateur players of all ages.

“Well, there’s risk of injury in any sport,” says Stuart. “But, USA Hockey and Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center have come up with strategies to make the sport of ice hockey safer, and it really is a multifaceted approach.”

Whether in the gym or in a game, make stretching part of your warmup, he says. Good mechanics help, too, so pay attention to proper knee position and hip alignment — even during routine conditioning.

Athletic performance specialist Shawn Vinz adds that strengthening key muscles improves stability.

“For a skater, it’s really important to have strong hips, glutes, quadriceps and hamstrings. And, so, we’ll do a lot of unilateral work,” Vinz says.

Proper safety gear, like helmets and mouth guards, are a must. Just as important, according to Stuart, is to encourage sportsmanship and good behavior.

“We teach them to never deliver a blow to the head, never check from behind, never charge or board an opponent,” says Stuart.

Another important USA Hockey safety tool is the Heads Up, Don’t Duck program. It teaches players to lift their heads — not duck — when headed for a collision to reduce the risk of potentially paralyzing spine or neck injuries.