Are athletes, particularly NHLers returning from injury too soon?

Question

I know I've seen a variety of injured players from all sports returning to their respective games "sooner than expected". Last year much ado was made aboot NFL players often being pushed back into the game before sufficiently recovering from injuries. 
 
The message from  the NHL is that they are particularly conservative when it comes to players with concussions and post-concussion syndrome returning to play. But on the other hand, doesn't it seem as though many players with non-concussion related injuries are often rushing back, not allowing for sufficient recovery time?...sometimes possibly precipitating a relapse or chain of related injuries? What comes to mind is the frequent recurrence of groin, abdominal and hip injuries. Are the players being pushed too hard to return too soon?

Bob Loblaw Deux · Accepted Answer

Roberto Luongo, Daniel "it's unrelated to my prior injury" Briere, Marian Gaborik.......I guess it would seem.

 Things like groins are always such a tricky injury because sometimes you feel like you are OK and it is not until you can test it at full speed that you know for sure if it is 100% and by that time, it is too late. I think what we are starting to see now (On Luongo's 2nd return) is that you wait until you are 100% and THEN a week on top of that.
 It is also a fine line in that, for many of these teams, they need these guys back sooner than later to make a play-off push so they might rush them.

 Given the Flyers play sans Briere, their cap issues and their play with Briere.........him being out of the line-up is a blessing in disguise perhaps. One month? Take two! Then come back 100% and make your $ in the play-offs.

McMoose--RIPYAHS · Answer

I don't see that a lot in the Wings orginazation, but I'm sure around the NHL it happens.  I think coaches always have the players best interest, but the player just wants to get back and play and will tell the coach he's 100% even if he's not.  But isn't that what the physicians are for?  Don't they have some final says?

I was thinkin bout this the other day, good question.

michel b · Answer

Yes no dought about it
Some even go so far as to hide injuries in order toplay
Im involved with a AAA midget club here in canada and we had a player seperate his shoulder saturday in the first period he did not say anything kept playing that way the next day he could hardly move his arm did the warmup with team 1.5 hrs befaure game and mentioned his injury to a teamate who questioned him about his effort or lack of as he did not do pusshup or anything that would involve uper body and arm. He asked his teamate not to mention to coach but they saw me and his teamate said you should see trainer and tell the coach.
He wanted to play so bad

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Are athletes, particularly NHLers returning from injury too soon?

3 Answers