Hockey Doc
The Hockey Doc: Preparation for tryouts
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 04 October 2012 17:39
By Dr. Rob LaPrade
http://drrobertlaprademd.com
Question: What can I do to best prepare for hockey tryouts?
Answer: The best way to perform at a high level during hockey tryouts is to stay hydrated and participate in proper endurance conditioning beforehand. With the return to the ice rinks for dryland training and hockey tryouts, it is important to recognize that many early season activities put athletes at risk for dehydration and a subsequent loss of their competitive edge. The major risk factors for dehydration include hockey players’ inability to release heat efficiently if poorly conditioned, and improper fluid replacement. Prescription medications, supplements (such as Ephedra), and medical conditions (such as recent fevers, sleep deprivation, asthma, sunburn, and being overweight) may also increase your risk of dehydration and significantly decrease your performance.
The Hockey Doc: Early-season strength and conditioning
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- Last Updated on Friday, 07 September 2012 15:21
By Dr. Rob LaPrade
http://drrobertlaprademd.com
Question: Some of my teammates and other players I know were sidelined last season, not because of contact injuries, but with sports hernias, groin pulls, low back pain and Osgood-Schlatter’s syndrome. As I start the season, what training or exercises can I do to avoid these injuries?
Answer: Our therapists recommend pre-season and early season training programs focusing on flexibility to improve mobility, muscle coordination and control to improve stability, good form during strength training, and short interval cardiovascular training. Programs that combine all four of these components should be tailored to age, skill level, previous injury and the time of the athletic season (preseason vs. early vs. late).
Read more: The Hockey Doc: Early-season strength and conditioning
The Hockey Doc: MCL injuries of the elbow
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 12 July 2012 16:13
By Dr. Rob LaPrade
http://drrobertlaprademd.com
Question: I was checked into the boards and my arm was jammed when something hit the outside of my elbow. Now I have pain and it seems to gap on the inside of my elbow. What is wrong what can I do to treat it?
The Hockey Doc: Summer hockey and heat-related injuries
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 09 August 2012 15:43
By Dr. Rob LaPrade
http://drrobertlaprademd.com
Question: I’ve heard about football players suffering from dehydration and heat stroke during summer practices. What about hockey players?
Answer: It might seem unlikely that hockey players can suffer heat injuries, but dry-land training, a warm rink in the summer and being deconditioned can have serious heat-related side effects if proper precautions are not taken.
Read more: The Hockey Doc: Summer hockey and heat-related injuries
The Hockey Doc: Elbow injuries
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- Last Updated on Monday, 09 July 2012 01:03
By Dr. Rob LaPrade
http://drrobertlaprademd.com
Question: I have noticed recurrent pain in my elbow and when I touch the tip of the joint, it feels like there are chips of bone in it. What is wrong with my elbow and what can I do to treat it?
Answer: Elbow injuries are somewhat common in ice hockey. The elbow is a hinge joint where the bones of the forearm (the radius and ulna) come together with the bone of the upper arm (humerus). The medial collateral ligament (MCL) on the inside of the elbow and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) on the outside are the two primary ligaments that hold the joint in place. Muscles around the joint allow for movement while bursa sacs provide lubrication and protection of the joint.
