How to Treat Common Hockey Injuries with Physiotherapy
- Sasha Guay
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Hockey is fast, physical, and demanding on the body. Whether you're a competitive athlete or playing recreationally, the combination of speed, contact, and repetitive skating mechanics puts you at risk for injury.
From sudden collisions to repetitive strain, certain injuries show up more often than others in hockey players. Understanding these injuries—and how physiotherapy can help—can make a big difference in how quickly and safely you return to the ice.
At Physical Edge Physiotherapy, we regularly help hockey players recover, rebuild, and perform at their best.
Why Hockey Players Are Prone to Injury
Hockey places unique demands on the body:
Repetitive skating strides stress the hips and groin
Quick direction changes challenge knee stability
High-speed contact increases shoulder injury risk
Playing on ice reduces stability and control
These factors make both acute injuries (sudden) and overuse injuries (develop over time) common in hockey.
Groin Strains
Groin strains are one of the most common hockey injuries. They occur when the inner thigh muscles are overstretched or overloaded, often during powerful skating strides or sudden lateral movements.
Symptoms:
Pain in the inner thigh or groin
Pain when skating, sprinting, or changing direction
Weakness or tightness
How Physiotherapy Helps:
Progressive strengthening of the adductor muscles
Improving hip mobility and control
Gradual return-to-skating programs
Addressing muscle imbalances to prevent re-injury
Read more about groin strains here
Hip Labrum Injuries
The hip labrum is a ring of cartilage that helps stabilize the hip joint. In hockey players, repetitive hip rotation and deep flexion can lead to irritation or tearing.
Symptoms:
Deep hip or groin pain
Clicking, locking, or catching sensations
Pain with skating or prolonged sitting
How Physiotherapy Helps:
Improving hip stability and control
Strengthening surrounding muscles (glutes, core)
Modifying movement patterns that overload the hip
Gradual return to sport-specific movement
Shoulder Separations from Contact Play
Shoulder separations (AC joint injuries) often happen from falls or collisions into the boards or ice.
Symptoms:
Pain at the top of the shoulder
Swelling or visible bump
Pain with lifting or reaching
How Physiotherapy Helps:
Restoring shoulder range of motion
Strengthening the rotator cuff and shoulder stabilizers
Gradual return to contact and overhead activity
Improving stability to reduce risk of future injury
ACL Tears and Knee Stability
ACL injuries are less common than groin strains in hockey but can be serious and season-ending.
They often occur during sudden stops, pivots, or awkward landings.
Symptoms:
A popping sensation at the time of injury
Swelling in the knee
Instability or “giving way”
How Physiotherapy Helps:
Prehabilitation before surgery (if required)
Post-surgical rehabilitation to restore strength and mobility
Neuromuscular training to improve knee control
Return-to-sport testing to ensure readiness for play
How Physiotherapy Helps Hockey Players Recover
While each injury is different, physiotherapy plays a central role in recovery by focusing on both healing and performance.
At Physical Edge Physiotherapy, treatment includes:
1. Individualized Assessment
Understanding your injury, movement patterns, and sport demands
2. Strength and Stability Training
Targeting key areas like hips, core, and shoulders to support performance
3. Movement Retraining
Improving skating mechanics, control, and efficiency
4. Load Management
Guiding a safe return to practice and competition
5. Injury Prevention Strategies
Reducing the risk of recurrence through long-term planning
Preventing Hockey Injuries
Injury prevention is just as important as treatment. A physiotherapist can help you:
Improve hip and groin strength
Build better control during skating and direction changes
Address muscle imbalances
Develop proper warm-up routines
Manage training and game load
The Bottom Line
Hockey injuries like groin strains, hip labral injuries, shoulder separations, and ACL tears can significantly impact your performance and time on the ice.
The right rehabilitation plan not only helps you recover—but helps you come back stronger.
At Physical Edge Physiotherapy, we provide evidence-based care tailored to hockey players of all levels.
Ready to Get Back on the Ice?
If you're dealing with a hockey injury or want to prevent one, early assessment and proper treatment can make all the difference.
Book an appointment with Physical Edge Physiotherapy today and get a personalized plan to help you recover, perform, and stay in the game.
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