Ankle and Foot Injuries on Ice Hockey

Ankle and Foot Injuries on Ice Hockey

Ankle and Foot injuries are very common in Ice Hockey, that is not a surprise giving the nature of the sport. The combination of high-speed, hard body contact with big and fast players sliding over the ice surface using rigid boots on top of a thin sharp blade. This can end very badly for some players ankle and foot.

Ankle sprains are the most common injuries in hockey players, In the NHL, for example, players reach easily 30 mph, and in a fall that speed can be cut in half in less than a second and when that happens with a foot rotated the injury is almost certain. Forward players are the one that torn their ankles more often; they are always rush toward the goal or after the puck having to pass by the big and tough defenseman. 

Although goalies don’t skate at high speed, they are turning their ankles in almost every save they do, and that can lead to a high-ankle sprain. The high-ankle sprain keeps players on the sidelines longer than a regular ankle sprain. When a typical sprain occurs, the prognosis is two to three weeks, as opposed to roughly six to eight weeks for a high-ankle injury.

Another common injury is a foot fracture. High-speed collisions, flying hockey pucks, and crashing sticks are just the kind of direct trauma that can easily cause ankle and foot injuries fractures. Fractures can be very painful, but since contact injuries like ankle and foot fractures are just a part of the sport, they can’t be completely prevented. The best advice for preventing injury is to train properly for the sport both on and off the ice and be sure that your equipment is in good shape for your level of activity.