The high school hockey season officially gets underway later this month in Connecticut, and many youth leagues have already started training sessions and practices. Hockey is a sport that really tests your lower body strength, and while the sport is great at improving the health of the muscles and soft tissues in your feet, all the stress you put on this area can also cause injuries to develop.

Dr. McDonald and his team treat competitive and recreational hockey players with regular frequency as the temperatures begin to drop, and while we look forward to helping you return to the ice in short order, we want to use today’s blog to spotlight some common foot and ankle injuries that occur during hockey season so that you can work to prevent them from developing in the first place. Below, we take a closer look at a couple foot and ankle injuries we see with greater frequency among hockey players.

4 Ankle & Foot Injuries Common in Ice Hockey Players

You put a significant amount of stress on your feet and ankles as you start, stop, twist and turn on the ice, and if you overload your feet or catch a rough patch of ice, you could end up suffering an injury. Here’s a look at some of the most common foot and ankle injuries that affect hockey players throughout their season.

• Ankle Sprains – Hockey players tend to have very strong ankle ligaments that help to support their ankle joint, and given the design of the hockey skate itself, the lateral ankle ligaments on the outside of the ankle tend to have some extra protection. A standard inversion ankle sprain isn’t all that common in hockey, but what tends to develop is what’s known as a high ankle sprain. If you catch a rough patch on the ice or fall awkwardly, your ankle can roll inside to outside (eversion), overloading the ligaments on the inside of your ankle joint and the tendons that attach the tibia and fibula to your ankle. These soft tissues are strong and typically well-protected, meaning it takes significant stress to damage them, and in turn it will take longer to recover from a high ankle sprain than a standard ankle sprain. Most hockey players are sidelined for about six weeks following a high ankle sprain. Wearing skates that fit correctly and doing ankle strengthening exercises throughout the year can help to reduce your risk of a high ankle sprain.
• Lace Bite – Lace bite is an injury categorized by pain on the top of your foot. Stress from your skate and athletic movements during practices or games can lead to inflammation of the extensor hallucis longus tendon, which is the tissue that connects your tibia to your big toe. This can make the simple movement of lifting your toes upwards (dorsiflexion) quite painful. Oftentimes irritation of this tendon is caused by skates that are overly tight, so while you want a snug and comfortable fit, be wary of overtightening. If you believe you’re dealing with lace bite, limit your time on the ice and try to keep the top of your skates just a little looser when skating.
• Foot Fractures – If you’ve ever dove in front of a shot attempt or taken a rogue slapshot to the ankle, you know how painful getting struck by a vulcanized rubber puck can be. Bruises and foot fractures are an unfortunate reality as players get older and shots start becoming harder. There’s little you can do to completely prevent foot and ankle contusions and fractures, but any direct trauma to the body from a puck should be taken seriously. Don’t assume the pain will just fade away if you try to skate it off. Have the injury assessed by a team trainer and then a foot and ankle specialist if there are clear signs of trauma. Understanding what you’re dealing with and developing an individualized treatment plan is the best way to get back on the ice as quickly as possible.
• Haglund’s Deformity – A final condition that we sometimes see in hockey players is Haglund’s deformity, and it occurs when a bony protrusion develops along the back of a person’s heel. This formation can develop as a result of the chronic pressure and stress hockey players put on the heel area during hockey and while wearing skates. This can cause irritation and inflammation of the soft tissues in the area, which can lead to calcification and a bony enlargement as the body repeatedly tries to heal these tissues. Similar to lace bite, wearing skates that properly fit your foot is key to preventing Haglund’s deformity, and you should also avoid overly tight shoes when not on the ice. Surgical intervention is warranted if the bony enlargement grows too big, so don’t ignore the warning signs of an issue on the backside of your heel.

If you’re a hockey player and you’re dealing with any of the above injuries, make sure you reach out to a specialist who knows how to manage these conditions and help you return to the ice at full capacity. For assistance treating any of these problems or a different foot issue, reach out to Dr. McDonald and his team today at (860) 244-8889.