As a collision sport, there’s no shortage of risk for injuries. Solid ice, hard boards, goal posts, sticks, skates, pucks travelling 80 miles per hour or more, and body checks from other players—hockey players have earned their reputation as among the toughest athletes for good reason.
In addition to fractures, because skating movements are so explosive and repetitive, other common hockey injuries include hip bursitis and knee injuries.
Nonetheless, Canadians love hockey, and it’s important practitioners be able to treat common hockey injuries efficiently, so players can get back on the ice with minimal downtime.
Shockwave Therapy for Common Hockey Injuries
Shockwave therapy is a drug-free, non-invasive treatment modality for many common hockey injuries. By targeting an affected area with acoustic pressure waves, shockwave therapy boosts circulation to stimulate cells that are responsible for bone and tissue healing, enhancing the natural healing process.
Many athletes, trainers, and medical practitioners rely on shockwave therapy because it has been clinically proven to effectively treat many common hockey injuries quickly.
- Bone healing
As mentioned above, hockey is a high-impact sport, so there’s a lot of potential for fractures. Shockwave therapy has been proven to be effective in treating fresh bone fractures and nonunions.
A study published in Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism presented findings that included seven years of treating nonunions and fractures with shockwave therapy. Following treatment, researchers noted bone union was achieved in 85 per cent of nonunions and 80 per cent of fractures.
Researchers concluded that shockwave therapy should be considered “the first choice in the management of fractures.”
- Trochanteric bursitis
Hip or trochanteric bursitis often happens to hockey players due to the repetitive motion of certain movements. This is especially true for goalies who overuse the hip flexors to get in and out of the butterfly position.
A study from The American Journal of Sports Medicine measured the effectiveness of treating chronic greater trochanteric pain syndrome with shockwave therapy. Researchers compared a group of 33 patients who received shockwave therapy to a control group of the same number that received additional forms of nonoperative therapy.
Patients were evaluated with Visual Analogue Score, Harris hip score, and Roles and Maudsley score. Researchers observed better results for patients in the shockwave group across all scores, concluding that shockwave therapy “is an effective treatment for greater trochanteric pain syndrome.”
- Knee pain
Knee soft tissue disorders are common in hockey as a result of damage to the ligaments, muscles, tendons, and menisci surrounding the joint. If left untreated, knee pain can seriously impact on-ice performance and quality of life in daily life for patients.
A literature review of 19 randomized controlled trials analyzed the efficiency of shockwave therapy for knee soft tissue disorders. Researchers saw shockwave therapy had “overall significant effects” on treatment success rates, pain reduction, and range of motion restoration.
The Ideal Device for Treating Common Hockey Injuries
Many sports medicine practitioners must travel in the field to treat their patients. The MASTERPULS® ONE is ideal for treating common hockey injuries because it is lightweight, easy to use, and completely portable. Now you can take this groundbreaking technology with you to the rink.
Call 1-866-977-0847 or visit our website today to learn more about integrating shockwave therapy into your practice.
