Physiotherapy for Hockey Injuries

Physiotherapy for Hockey Injuries in Newmarket

Hockey is one of Canada’s favourite sports, and one of the most demanding. Fast skating, sudden stops, contact along the boards and hard falls on the ice put players at every level at risk of injury. At FIT Physiotherapy in Newmarket, we help amateur and recreational players, from minor hockey to adult rec leagues, recover from injuries and get back on the ice with confidence.

Hockey is also the sport most associated with brain injuries in Canada, accounting for more than 3,000 emergency department visits for brain injuries in Ontario and Alberta in a single year, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information. That is why we take concussion recovery as seriously as any sprain or strain.

Every player starts with a one-on-one assessment and a plan built around your injury, your position and when you want to be back playing. Treatment is drug-free and non-invasive.

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Common Hockey Injuries We Treat

  • Groin pulls and hip problems: among the most common hockey injuries, often from the explosive skating stride and quick changes of direction.
  • Shoulder injuries: separations and rotator cuff strains from contact along the boards or falls on the ice.
  • Knee injuries: ligament sprains (such as the MCL) from collisions or catching an edge.
  • Ankle sprains: from pivots, stops and awkward landings.
  • Wrist and hand injuries: sprains and strains from falls or stick contact, and rehab after fractures have healed.
  • Back pain: from the bent-forward skating posture and repeated rotation when shooting.
  • Concussions: structured recovery and a gradual, staged return to play.

Treatment may include hands-on manual therapy, exercise, shockwave therapy, dry needling and acupuncture. Chiropractic care and massage therapy are also available in the same clinic.

hockey injury rehab clinic newmarket

Getting Back on the Ice

Rest alone rarely gets you game-ready. Your plan moves through clear stages, and you progress when your body is ready, not just when the pain fades:

  1. Settle pain and swelling with hands-on treatment and gentle movement.
  2. Restore movement and strength, with a focus on the hips, groin, core and the injured area.
  3. Build hockey-specific power and control in our on-site training facility: single-leg strength, lateral push-off, quick changes of direction and balance for edge work.
  4. Check you are ready. Before you return to full practice and games, your physiotherapist re-tests strength, movement and control on both sides so you can see how you are doing.
  5. Return to play, often through skating and non-contact practice first, then contact and games.

You also leave with exercises to help lower the chance of the same injury happening again.

Concussion Recovery for Hockey Players

Any player with a suspected concussion should stop playing right away and be assessed by a doctor. After that, physiotherapy can help manage symptoms such as headaches, neck pain, dizziness and balance problems.

Return to hockey follows the step-by-step approach in the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport (Parachute, 2nd edition, 2024): light activity first, then gradually harder exercise and non-contact drills, with medical clearance from a doctor before any return to contact. Learn more about physiotherapy for concussions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Physiotherapy can help with groin pulls, hip problems, shoulder and rotator cuff injuries, knee and ankle sprains, wrist injuries, back pain and concussion symptoms. Your physiotherapist will assess your injury and build a plan around your recovery and return to play.

Once anything serious, such as a fracture or concussion, has been checked by a doctor, it is usually best to start early. Early assessment helps you avoid doing too much too soon, or too little.

It depends on the injury and how severe it is. Minor sprains and strains may settle within a few weeks, while injuries such as rotator cuff tears or concussions can need a longer, staged recovery. Your physiotherapist will give you a realistic timeline after your assessment.

Being pain-free is not the only test. Before you return to full practice and games, your physiotherapist re-checks your strength, movement and control and compares the injured side with the other. After a concussion, you also need medical clearance from a doctor before returning to contact.

Yes. We treat amateur and recreational players of all ages, from minor hockey to adult leagues. No doctor’s referral is needed, and we direct bill most extended health insurance plans.

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