Holly B. is an active professional in her late twenties who spends her free time playing recreational flag football and league basketball. She shares her experience with us as she explores the world of sports.

Now that I've recovered from my own injury, I'm much more aware of the strain we put on our bodies during sports. Last week I went to the Ducks vs. Redwings hockey game in Anaheim. I've only been to a handful of hockey games in my life, so it was almost like watching a hockey game for the first time. I embarrassed myself by calling the puck a "ball" several times, but overall I really enjoyed watching the game. What amazed me was how hard the players slammed each other into the walls of the rink!

Checking in ice hockey is typically a defensive maneuver and it's totally legal to push another player into the side of the ice rink. However, the hockey player's shoulder takes the brunt of the force between their opponent's body and the side of the rink. This can lead to hockey shoulder strain and injuries. Some common hockey shoulder injuries include AC joint separation (separated shoulder) and dislocated shoulder. These injuries can also occur from falling on the ice... or during the occasional hockey fight.

Wearing hockey braces can help prevent shoulder injuries. After the game I checked here on BetterBraces.com and was happy to find that they offer shoulder braces for hockey. Here are some of the shoulder supports recommended by brace coaches:

DonJoy Sully Shoulder Support - ideal for sports to give extra shoulder support from underneath your uniform to help prevent hockey shoulder injuries

DonJoy Shoulder Stabilizer - designed to help you recuperate as quickly as possible after a hockey shoulder injury