Women and Men National Collegiate Athletic Association Ice Hockey Players Were Similarly Likely to Suffer Lumbar Spine Injuries

Background: As previous epidemiological studies in elite ice hockey have focused on acute time-loss injuries, little is known about the burden of overuse injuries and illnesses in ice hockey. Purpose: To report the prevalence and burden of all health problems in male professional ice hockey players in Norway during a single competitive season. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiological study. Methods: A total of 225 male ice hockey players in the GET League (the premier professional league) in Norway reported all health problems (acute injuries, overuse injuries, and illnesses) during the 2017-2018 competitive season. Players reported all injuries and illnesses for 31 weeks using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire on Health Problems. Results: At any given time, 40% (95% CI, 37%-43%) of players reported symptoms from an injury or illness, and 20% (95% CI, 19%-22%) experienced health problems with a substantial negative impact on training and performance. Acute injuries represented the greatest incidence, prevalence, and burden (defined as the cross-product of severity and incidence). The most burdensome acute injuries were to the head/face, shoulder/clavicle, knee, and ankle. The most burdensome overuse injuries were to the knee, lumbar spine, and hip/groin. Conclusion: This registration captured a greater burden from overuse injuries than traditional injury registration, but acute injuries did represent a major problem. These data provide guidance in the development of prevention programs for both acute and overuse injuries, which should focus on the lumbar spine, hip/groin, and knee.

Download Full-text

Epidemiology of Lumbar Spine Injuries in Men’s and Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball Athletes

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967119879104 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. 232596711987910

Author(s):

Justin L. Makovicka ◽

David G. Deckey ◽

Karan A. Patel ◽

Jeffrey D. Hassebrock ◽

Andrew S. Chung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lumbar Spine ◽

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Surveillance Program ◽

Basketball Players ◽

Injury Rates ◽

Needed Information ◽

Women's Basketball ◽

Spine Injuries ◽

Rate Ratios ◽

Injury Recurrence

Background: Lumbar spine injuries (LSIs) are common in both men’s and women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball players and can frequently lead to reinjuries and persistent pain. Purpose: To describe the epidemiology of an LSI in collegiate men’s and women’s basketball during the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 academic years. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: The incidence and characteristics of LSIs were identified utilizing the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (ISP). Rates of injury were calculated as the number of injuries divided by the total number of athlete-exposures (AEs). AEs were defined as any student participation in 1 NCAA-sanctioned practice or competition. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were then calculated to compare the rates of injury between season, event type, mechanism, injury recurrence, and time lost from sport. Results: The NCAA ISP reported 124 LSIs from an average of 28 and 29 men’s and women’s teams, respectively. These were used via validated weighting methodology to estimate a total of 5197 LSIs nationally. The rate of LSIs in women was 2.16 per 10,000 AEs, while men suffered LSIs at a rate of 3.47 per 10,000 AEs. Men were 1.61 times more likely to suffer an LSI compared with women. In men, an LSI was 3.48 times more likely to occur in competition when compared with practice, while in women, an LSI was 1.36 times more likely to occur in competition than in practice. Women suffered the highest LSI rate during the postseason, while the highest rate in men was during the regular season. The majority of both female (58.9%; n = 1004) and male (73.1%; n = 2353) athletes returned to play within 24 hours of injury. Conclusion: To date, this is the largest study to characterize LSIs in NCAA basketball and provides needed information on the prevalence and timing of these injuries. The majority of injuries in both sexes were new, and most athletes returned to play in less than 24 hours. Injury rates were highest during competition in both sexes.

Download Full-text

Epidemiology of Foot and Ankle Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967119865908 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. 232596711986590 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Steven G. Crowley ◽

David P. Trofa ◽

J. Turner Vosseller ◽

Prakash Gorroochurn ◽

Lauren H. Redler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Injury Surveillance ◽

Ice Hockey ◽

Ankle Injuries ◽

Surveillance Program ◽

Ankle Sprains ◽

Foot And Ankle ◽

Time Loss ◽

Injury Rates ◽

Hockey Players

Background: Ice hockey is a high-speed contact sport in which athletes are prone to many different injuries. While past studies have examined overall injury rates in ice hockey, foot and ankle injuries among collegiate ice hockey players have yet to be analyzed. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the epidemiology of foot and ankle injuries among collegiate ice hockey players utilizing data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program. We hypothesized that male ice hockey players would sustain more injuries compared with female ice hockey players and that the injuries sustained would be more severe. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Data on all foot and ankle injuries sustained during the academic years 2004 through 2014 were obtained from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program. Injury rates, rate ratios (RRs), and injury proportion ratios were reported with 95% CIs. Results: Over the study period, the overall rate of foot and ankle injuries for men was higher than that for women (413 vs 103 injuries, respectively; RR, 4.01 [95% CI, 3.23-4.97]). Injury rates were highest during the regular season for both men (358 injuries; RR, 64.78 [95% CI, 58.07-71.49]) and women (89 injuries; RR, 38.37 [95% CI, 30.40-46.35]) compared with the preseason or postseason. The most common injury in men was a foot and/or toe contusion (22.5%), while women most commonly sustained a low ankle sprain (31.1%). For men, foot and/or toe contusions accounted for the most non–time loss (≤24 hours ) and moderate time-loss (2-13 days) injuries, while high ankle sprains accounted for the most severe time-loss (≥14 days) injuries. For women, foot and/or toe contusions accounted for the most non–time loss injuries, low ankle sprains accounted for the most moderate time-loss injuries, and high ankle sprains accounted for the most severe time-loss injuries. Conclusion: Foot and ankle injuries were frequent among collegiate ice hockey players during the period studied. For men, contusions were the most commonly diagnosed injury, although high ankle sprains resulted in the most significant time lost. For women, low ankle sprains were the most common and resulted in the most moderate time lost. These findings may direct future injury prevention and guide improvements in ice skate design.

Download Full-text

Comparison of Concussion Rates Between NCAA Division I and Division III Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Players

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/0363546517710005 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 45 (11) ◽

pp. 2622-2629 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

John M. Rosene ◽

Bryan Raksnis ◽

Brie Silva ◽

Tyler Woefel ◽

Paul S. Visich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ncaa Division I ◽

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Injury Rate ◽

Ice Hockey ◽

Division I ◽

Surveillance Program ◽

Division Iii ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Hockey Players ◽

Rate Ratios

Background: Examinations related to divisional differences in the incidence of sports-related concussions (SRC) in collegiate ice hockey are limited. Purpose: To compare the epidemiologic patterns of concussion in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) ice hockey by sex and division. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: A convenience sample of men’s and women’s ice hockey teams in Divisions I and III provided SRC data via the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program during the 2009-2010 to 2014-2015 academic years. Concussion counts, rates, and distributions were examined by factors including injury activity and position. Injury rate ratios (IRRs) and injury proportion ratios (IPRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to compare concussion rates and distributions, respectively. Results: Overall, 415 concussions were reported for men’s and women’s ice hockey combined. The highest concussion rate was found in Division I men (0.83 per 1000 athlete-exposures [AEs]), followed by Division III women (0.78/1000 AEs), Division I women (0.65/1000 AEs), and Division III men (0.64/1000 AEs). However, the only significant IRR was that the concussion rate was higher in Division I men than Division III men (IRR = 1.29; 95% CI, 1.02-1.65). The proportion of concussions from checking was higher in men than women (28.5% vs 9.4%; IPR = 3.02; 95% CI, 1.63-5.59); however, this proportion was higher in Division I women than Division III women (18.4% vs 1.8%; IPR = 10.47; 95% CI, 1.37-79.75). The proportion of concussions sustained by goalkeepers was higher in women than men (14.2% vs 2.9%; IPR = 4.86; 95% CI, 2.19-10.77), with findings consistent within each division. Conclusion: Concussion rates did not vary by sex but differed by division among men. Checking-related concussions were less common in women than men overall but more common in Division I women than Division III women. Findings highlight the need to better understand the reasons underlying divisional differences within men’s and women’s ice hockey and the need to develop concussion prevention strategies specific to each athlete population.

Download Full-text

Lumbar Spine Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletes: A 5-Season Epidemiological Study

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967118820046 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 232596711882004 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jeffrey D. Hassebrock ◽

Karan A. Patel ◽

Justin L. Makovicka ◽

Andrew S. Chung ◽

Sailesh V. Tummala ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lumbar Spine ◽

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Spine Injury ◽

Common Mechanism ◽

Mechanism Of Injury ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Injury Rates ◽

Spine Injuries ◽

Ncaa Athletes ◽

Injury Recurrence

Background: Lumbar spine injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes have not been well studied. Purpose: To describe the epidemiology of lumbar spine injuries in NCAA athletes during the 2009/2010 through 2013/2014 academic years utilizing the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program (ISP). Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: A voluntary convenience sample of NCAA varsity teams from 25 sports was examined. Mechanism of injury, injury recurrence, and time lost from sport were recorded. Injury rates were calculated as the number of injuries divided by the total number of athlete-exposures (AEs). AEs were defined as any student participation in 1 NCAA-sanctioned practice or competition. Injury rate ratios and injury proportion ratios were calculated to compare the rates within and between sports by event type, season, patient sex, mechanism, injury recurrence, and time lost from sport. Comparisons between sexes were made utilizing data that had both male and female samples. Results: An estimated 50,834 lumbar spine injuries were identified. The overall rate of injuries was 2.88 per 10,000 AEs. The rate of injuries was 2.60 per 10,000 AEs in men compared with 2.89 per 10,000 AEs in women for sex-comparable sports. Women were 1.11 times more likely than men to suffer a lumbar spine injury. Women's gymnastics (8.02 injuries per 10,000 AEs) and women's tennis (5.73 injuries per 10,000 AEs) had the highest rates of lumbar spine injuries. Athletes were 1.6 and 2.4 times more likely to sustain a lumbar spine injury during the preseason than the regular season or postseason, respectively. Noncontact was the most common mechanism of injury (45%). Injury recurrence was most common in men’s outdoor track (43%). Most injuries resulted in less than 24 hours of time loss from event participation (64%). Conclusion: The rate of lumbar spine injuries was high in NCAA athletes, and injuries commonly recurred (20.73%). In general, women were more likely to sustain a lumbar spine injury compared with men. Higher injury rates occurred during competition and via a noncontact mechanism of injury. In addition to prevention programs, reconditioning programs should be considered to prevent these injuries.

Download Full-text

Injury Surveillance of Head, Neck, and Facial Injuries in Collegiate Ice Hockey Players, 2009–2010 Through 2013–2014 Academic Years

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-52.4.03 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 52 (8) ◽

pp. 776-784 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Molly MacMhathan Simmons ◽

David I. Swedler ◽

Zachary Y. Kerr

Keyword(s):

High Speed ◽

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Injury Rate ◽

Injury Surveillance ◽

Ice Hockey ◽

Surveillance Program ◽

Injury Rates ◽

Full Contact ◽

Hockey Players ◽

Rate Ratios

Context: Ice hockey is a high-speed, full-contact sport with a high risk of head/face/neck (HFN) injuries. However, men's and women's ice hockey differ; checking is allowed only among men. Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of HFN injuries in collegiate men's and women's ice hockey during the 2009−2010 through 2013−2014 academic years. Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting: Ice hockey data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance Program during the 2009−2010 through 2013−2014 academic years. Patients or Other Participants: Fifty-seven men's and 26 women's collegiate ice hockey programs from all NCAA divisions provided 106 and 51 team-seasons of data, respectively. Main Outcome Measure(s): Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures and rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The NCAA Injury Surveillance Program reported 496 and 131 HFN injuries in men's and women's ice hockey, respectively. The HFN injury rate was higher in men than in women (1.75 versus 1.16/1000 athlete-exposures; incidence rate ratio = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.25, 1.84). The proportion of HFN injuries from checking was higher in men than in women for competitions (38.5% versus 13.6%; injury proportion ratio = 2.82; 95% CI = 1.64, 4.85) and practices (21.9% versus 2.3%; injury proportion ratio = 9.41; 95% CI = 1.31, 67.69). The most common HFN injury diagnosis was concussion; most concussions occurred in men's competitions from player contact while checking (25.9%). Player contact during general play comprised the largest proportion of concussions in men's practices (25.9%), women's competitions (25.0%), and women's practices (24.0%). While 166 lacerations were reported in men, none were reported in women. In men, most lacerations occurred from player contact during checking in competitions (41.8%) and player contact during general play in practices (15.0%). Conclusions: A larger proportion of HFN injuries in ice hockey occurred during checking in men versus women. Concussion was the most common HFN injury and was most often due to player contact. Lacerations were reported only among men and were mostly due to checking. Injury-prevention programs should aim to reduce checking-related injuries.

Download Full-text

Efficacy of Cervical Spine Muscle Strength Training in the Prevention of Cervical Spine Injuries in Hockey Players: A Critically Appraised Topic

International Journal of Strength and Conditioning ◽

10.47206/ijsc.v1i1.26 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Christopher Costa

Keyword(s):

Cervical Spine ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Ice Hockey ◽

Sufficient Evidence ◽

Neck Muscle ◽

Keywords Cervical Spine ◽

Cervical Spine Injuries ◽

Hockey Players ◽

Spine Injuries

Abstract Limited review of cervical spine injuries within the sport of ice hockey exist in the published world. Therefore, this paper sets out to locate, define, and critically appraise the topic to determine the frequency, severity, and possible interventions for the prevention and rehabilitation of cervical spine injuries in ice hockey. A call to action is advised to accurately track these injuries in order to better assist with the creation of a standardized protocol for treatment and reconditioning designed to assist strength and conditioning professionals in the reconditioning of athletes. Sufficient evidence supported the prevalence of cervical spine injuries in the sport of hockey. muscle strength and rigidity had little to no effect on the resistance of head impact acceleration.4 Regardless of linear velocity and peak angular velocity changes amongst individuals with varying isometric muscle strength of the cervical muscle, cervical spine injuries appear to be unrelated.8 The continued documentation of cervical spine injuries in hockey is necessary to gain a clearer understanding of the current prevalence of this specific injury. It appears that cervical spine injuries are less prevalent at the professional and international levels. This could potentially be attributed to a greater respect for athletic competition, as well as significant improvements of motor function and control exhibited by professional hockey players. Improving physiological performance appears to have little to no effect on cervical spine injuries.7,8,9 Unfortunately, little to no evidence currently exists, regarding the optimization of kinetic and kinematic actions within the cervical spine structure by way of improving muscle function, hypertrophy, or neuromuscular efficiency. Keywords: cervical spine injuries in hockey, neck injuries in the hockey, non-concussion-based spine injuries in hockey, neck strength, neck muscle activation, head kinematics

Download Full-text