Treatment for Hockey Injuries
What are the most common hockey injuries?
Hockey is a fast-paced, exciting game for both spectators and athletes. However, it is also a high-impact sport, which can result in a wide range of injuries. Dr. Dare is an orthopedic physician in Raleigh, North Carolina who treats athletes of all levels for sports-related injuries. He specializes in many of the common injuries that affect hockey players, including the following:
MCL Injury
Your medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a ligament found in the inner portion of your knee, which helps stabilize your knee joint and allow a fluid range of motion. In high-impact sports like hockey, the outside of an athlete’s knee is commonly hit, causing stretching of this ligament. When the MCL is injured, it can put a player out for weeks and result in these symptoms:
- Tenderness and pain in the knee
- Knee swelling
- Popping sensation at the time of injury
- Knee “giving out”
Shoulder Dislocation
Shoulder dislocation is a serious injury that involves the ball portion of the shoulder joint to come loose from the socket portion. It can occur when a hockey player falls on the ice, hits another player, or hits the side wall of the hockey rink. When this happens, it can damage the surrounding ligaments and muscles, known as your rotator cuff and take a long time to heal. Even after recovery, shoulder dislocations could lead to shoulder instability in an athlete. Some of the uncomfortable symptoms related to a dislocated shoulder include:
- Loose feeling in the shoulder
- Lowered range of motion in your shoulder
- Shoulder pain
ACL Injuries
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in sports like hockey, which involve constantly changing direction and stopping suddenly. When an ACL injury occurs, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Popping sensation at the time of the injury
- Quick onset of swelling and knee pain
- Inability to bear weight on the leg
- Difficulty moving the knee joint
Where can I find a hockey injury doctor?
Dr. David Dare is a knee and shoulder sports medicine specialist located in the Raleigh, NC area. He has years of experience diagnosing and treating joint injuries for athletes, including hockey players. The first step to feeling better and getting back on the ice is to book an evaluation with Dr. Dare so he can diagnose your hockey injury and get you on the road to a quick recovery.
How is a hockey injury treated?
Depending on your exact hockey injury and the severity of your joint damage, it’s possible that you can make a full recovery and be back to your full health using nonsurgical treatment options. Whenever possible, Dr. Dare recommends conservative options for hockey injuries, including the following:
- Rest
- Activity level and lifestyle modifications
- Heat/ice therapy
- Physical therapy
- Exercise therapy
- Massage therapy
- Pain medications
In cases where your joint damage is too severe to heal properly without surgery, Dr. Dare offers the least invasive surgical options for hockey injuries, including arthroscopic knee surgery, arthroscopic shoulder surgery, and shoulder replacement surgery.
Patient Reviews:
What People Say About Us!
- “Dr Dare is patient and takes the time to sit and explain the evaluation and treatment recommendations. He truly cared about taking care of me and my injury and communicating with my other doctors to coordinate my care. He is excellent.” – L.P.
- “Dr. Dare has an excellent bedside manner for his patients. He has genuine concern for them and he is open and honest when it comes to the best options concerning what’s best for them in regards to their wellbeing and care. I would highly recommend anyone to go see him!!!!” – Y.M.
- “Dr. Dare is the absolute best! Takes the time needed to listen and evaluate you. He did an ACL repair on my son and helped me with shoulder issues.
You will be impressed and thankful after your visit with Dr. Dare!” – M.F.
Schedule Your Consultation
If you are experiencing symptoms of a hockey injury, consult a sports medicine physician. Dr. David Dare is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, shoulder surgery, and knee surgery.
His primary goal is to develop an effective treatment plan using the least invasive techniques to relieve your pain, restore function, and get you back to feeling your best. Call 919.781.5600 or fill out the form on this page to schedule an appointment with Dr. Dare today.
