Ice hockey is a sport that requires a unique combination of power, stamina, and speed. When you combine these three attributes, injuries can often follow.

Not every hockey injury requires a player to go to the emergency room. In many situations hockey injuries can be treated by massage therapy and a good strengthening and stretching program. When you are dealing with sport specific injuries, it is important that you find a professional who understands the muscles used for that given sport, such as hockey. 

The benefits of receiving massage therapy far exceeds just treating injuries. It also aids in increasing flexibility to prevent injuries, relieves muscle aches and pains, promotes healing of muscle tissue, increases relaxation and aids better sleeping patterns, and improves blood circulation.

7 Common Hockey injuries

1.Back Muscle Pain

Muscle pain of the back is one of the most common types of hockey injuries and is treatable by a  massage therapist. Without proper treatment, back pain can cause further problems resulting in more injuries of ligaments, joints, and spinal discs.

2. Overuse Injuries

Repeated strains and abuse can cause serious injuries that can result in long term pain and damage, sometimes even worse than acute injuries. Examples of these injuries are the forearms, hips and legs.

3. Pinched Nerve & Sciatica

The lower back, hips and glutes are heavily depended upon when playing hockey, it is common for players to experience tightness along nerve pathways which can restrict the nerve and cause pain in places that aren’t necessarily the problem area. A Massage therapist, aware of which muscles are most commonly used in hockey, will be able to track down the problem area and remove any restrictions to the nerve.

4. Neck Pain

Common sources of neck pain involve joints in your upper neck, muscles within your neck, or nerves. It’s possible to suffer whiplash during a game of hockey, and massage is a great way to find relief.

5. Thigh Strain

Constant use of thigh muscles during hockey can cause serious pain that can lead to overuse injuries. Massage for thigh strain is a great way to start feeling better and remove adhesions that are restricting movement and flexibility.

6. Shoulder Pain

Many hockey players deal with shoulder injuries over the course of their career. Massage therapy can help maximize tissue function by breaking down scar tissue that causes restrictions in movement and flexibility.

7. ACL Injuries

A common hockey injury is ACL injury which may or may not need ACL reconstruction (surgery). Massage therapy treatment is a valuable addition to physiotherapy for ACL rehabilitation. Applied together, physiotherapy protocols and massage therapy focuses on regaining knee range of motion and muscle strength, enabling the athlete to return to their activities of daily life and return to sports.

While massage therapy can’t fix every issue that can arise from playing a contact sport like hockey, it is a great way to keep your muscles mobile and loose so you can give yourself the best opportunity to keep yourself injury free. 

When you find yourself with a musculoskeletal injury, reach out to us at Athletickneads.com to see if we can help you get back in the game.

Working from home at desk setups that are not ergonomically correct or sitting improperly at your desk for long periods of time will have a negative impact on your body. Sitting at a desk with your shoulders rounded, head forward, hips tilted too far posteriorly or anteriorly can lead to you being in pain all day long. Your ability to sleep well will also be impacted so you are heading back to your desk the next day tired and in pain.

Whether sitting or standing, poor posture will lead to decreased range of motion, joint and muscular pain, muscle imbalances, increased muscle tension and headaches. When the body tries to function in an improper position, muscles are being stretched and overused for prolonged times, creating risk for injury and muscle strains. 

The most common symptoms of a long day of desk work are headache, neck, lower back and shoulder pain.

Massage therapy can be a great way to get your muscles back to a place where they aren't working against each other. By opening up your chest muscles it can allow your back and neck muscles to relax, giving you relief from pain.

Applying massage therapy techniques to the low back and hips releases muscular tension in the hip flexors and low back reducing low back pain and allowing the hips to return to a more neutral comfortable position.  

Tension in our body is not only brought on by poor posture but also from everyday life and work stress. Regular massage treatments are a great way to relieve tension and pain brought on by stress.

While sitting at your desk for the majority of the day might be necessary for your job, living in pain doesn’t have to be. Massage therapy can be a useful tool in correcting posture, relieving pain and decreasing stress.

Athletic Kneads is here to get you back to living life pain free. Book today or if you have any questions email us at info@athletickneads.com 

Attention golfers! Did you know that massage therapy can help improve your golf swing and prevent injuries? It can! Massage therapy is great for relaxing tense back, hamstring, hip flexors, shoulders, and forearms. Relaxing these muscles will create a bigger shoulder turn and improve back and hip flexibility and allow for more powerful torque with a higher finish. No matter your level of game, from the every day to the once a week or once a month player, massage therapy is an excellent way to improve your swing.

BENEFITS OF MASSAGE FOR GOLF

Injury Prevention 

Nothing is worse than walking up to the first tee and feeling every vertebrae crack along your spine. This means your muscles are too tight and those tight muscles can cause injury over time. Regular massage therapy can reduce spasms, scar tissue build up and get rid of those pesky trigger points. With relaxed muscles you are less likely to suffer strains and sprains such as the dreaded golfer's elbow, which is an overuse injury of the forearm. 

Better Posture

Many of you might not realize how important posture is to your golf swing. Massage therapy can help loosen those restricted postural imbalances, allowing the body to be in the correct position. The easier it is for your body to get into the proper position the easier it is for your swing to be fluid and natural.

Increased Range Of Motion & Flexibility 

It’s common for golfers to have tightness in the hips, lower back, shoulders and forearms due to overuse. Massage can be very effective at stretching and loosening those stiff joints and muscles to help increase motion and allow for a more powerful swing. Regular massage, along with daily stretching, will improve your range of motion and flexibility, making it easier for you to pick up those birdie putts from the bottom of the cup.

Pain Relief

Force and repetitive movements can result in spasms and soreness, both are things we never want golfing or in day to day life. Deep tissue massage can break down those muscular adhesions to allow the muscles and fascia to provide much needed pain and soreness relief.

Stress Relief

Being stressed is a great way to miss that 5 foot putt or over grip while swinging a club. We need to be relaxed while golfing but staying focused at the task at hand is important too. If you are stressed you won’t be able to focus on the game we love to play. Massage therapy is a great way to stay relaxed both mentally and physically.

As you can see there are many benefits to massage therapy when it comes to golf. Try out massage therapy today to help you get back in the game! If you have any massage therapy questions, reach out to our team at Info@AthleticKneads.com. If you would like to book an appointment please check out https://www.athletickneads.com/