A Program to Decrease the Risk of Spinal Cord
Injuries
Most people do not relate playing ice hockey with
spinal cord injuries in the neck -- they don’t happen often. But
when a severe injury like a spinal cord injury does occur, the question
is: What preventive measures could have been taken?
Players
- When going into the boards or goal posts, keep your HEADS UP.
- Do not tuck your chin.
- If possible, use your hands, arms, shoulders or facemask to cushion
the impact.
- Do NOT check others from behind.
Coaches
- Teach proper ways to give a body check and to take a check.
- Do NOT allow players to check from behind.
- Encourage fair play -- The purpose of body checking is to separate
the player from the puck, NOT to separate the player from
consciousness!
- Emphasize neck strengthening and flexibility exercises.
Parents
- Make sure your child (and your child’s coach) is aware of
these techniques to decrease the risk for neck injuries.
- Encourage your child to use the HEADS UP technique.
Can Prevention be Expected?
Prevention is usually possible, and should be the first thought in a
player’s mind when entering the rink. Think of the countless hours
spent skating, weight training, stretching, competing, and studying the
sport, so the player can be prepared when the referee blows the first
whistle at the start of the game. Knowing how to protect yourself
against spinal cord injury is no different than knowing which goal to
score against.
What Kind of Spinal Cord Injury Is Caused?
Cervical (neck) spinal cord injuries, though infrequent, can be
devastating. These most often occur when a player lowers his head or
tucks his chin to his chest, causing the vertebrae (bone segments of the
spinal column that surround the spinal cord) to align in a straight
line, and then collides head first into either another player, boards,
or goal posts. This force (called axial compression) is transmitted to
the aligned vertebrae, and, with minimal force, can result in the
fracture, or breaking, of one of the cervical vertebrae. When the
vertebra fractures, it can cause compression on the spinal cord, and it
is this compression that results in paralysis.
It is rare that this injury occurs when the neck is in a normal or
neutral position -- HEADS UP!
Is There Any Type of Protective Equipment?
At present, there is no protective equipment that a player can use to
prevent a cervical spine injury. Helmets can protect a player from
concussions but do not protect against cervical spinal cord injury.
The best form of protection is to be aware of the danger involved and
keep your HEAD UP!
For copies of this brochure, please contact:
Massachusetts Medical Society Department of Public Health and Education
at (781) 434-7373.
Heads Up, Don't
Duck instructional video on the Massachusetts Hockey website
Sponsors
- Massachusetts Medical Society
-
Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA)
-
Massachusetts Hockey
-
New England Ice Skating Managers Association
Produced by the Massachusetts Medical Society in conjunction with
Massachusetts Hockey.
This information may be duplicated for distribution w/out profit.
