Body checking in non-elite adolescent ice hockey leagues: it is never too late for policy change aiming to protect the health of adolescents

2021 ◽  
pp. bjsports-2020-103757
Author(s):  
Carolyn A Emery ◽  
Paul Eliason ◽  
Vineetha Warriyar ◽  
Luz Palacios-Derflingher ◽  
Amanda Marie Black ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Incidence Rate Ratio ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
Time Loss ◽  
Body Checking ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Potential Public Health ◽  
Study Physician

ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of policy change disallowing body checking in adolescent ice hockey leagues (ages 15–17) on reducing rates of injury and concussion.MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study. Players 15–17 years-old were recruited from teams in non-elite divisions of play (lower 40%–70% by division of play depending on year and city of play in leagues where policy permits or prohibit body checking in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada (2015–18). A validated injury surveillance methodology supported baseline, exposure-hours and injury data collection. Any player with a suspected concussion was referred to a study physician. Primary outcomes include game-related injuries, game-related injuries (>7 days time loss), game-related concussions and game-related concussions (>10 days time loss).Results44 teams (453 player-seasons) from non-body checking and 52 teams (674 player-seasons) from body checking leagues participated. In body checking leagues there were 213 injuries (69 concussions) and in non-body checking leagues 40 injuries (18 concussions) during games. Based on multiple multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression analyses, policy prohibiting body checking was associated with a lower rate of injury (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 0.38 (95% CI 0.24 to 0.6)) and concussion (IRR: 0.49; 95% CI 0.26 to 0.89). This translates to an absolute rate reduction of 7.82 injuries/1000 game-hours (95% CI 2.74 to 12.9) and the prevention of 7326 injuries (95% CI 2570 to 12083) in Canada annually.ConclusionsThe rate of injury was 62% lower (concussion 51% lower) in leagues not permitting body checking in non-elite 15–17 years old leagues highlighting the potential public health impact of policy prohibiting body checking in older adolescent ice hockey players.

The effect of a national body checking policy change on concussion risk in youth ice hockey players

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. A70.3-A71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Black ◽  
Luz Palacios-Derflingher ◽  
Kathryn J Schneider ◽  
Brent E Hagel ◽  
Carolyn A Emery
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Body Checking ◽  
National Body ◽  
Hockey Players

The risk of injury associated with body checking among Pee Wee ice hockey players: an evaluation of Hockey Canada’s national body checking policy change

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (24) ◽  
pp. 1767-1772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda M Black ◽  
Brent E Hagel ◽  
Luz Palacios-Derflingher ◽  
Kathryn J Schneider ◽  
Carolyn A Emery
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Body Checking ◽  
Risk Of Injury ◽  
National Body ◽  
Hockey Players

scholarly journals 750 The effect of body checking policy change on contact mechanisms in 11–12 year old ice hockey players

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (Suppl 2) ◽  
pp. A269.1-A269
Author(s):  
German Martinez ◽  
Leticia Janzen ◽  
Maciek Krolikowski ◽  
Nicole Romanow ◽  
Luz Palacios-Derflingher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Body Checking ◽  
Hockey Players

THE EFFECT OF BODY CHECKING POLICY CHANGE ON OFFENSIVE GAME SKILL PERFORMANCE IN 13–14 YEAR OLD ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 345.1-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ash Kolstad ◽  
Luc Nadeau ◽  
Paul Eliason ◽  
Luz Palacios-Derflingher ◽  
Claude Goulet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Body Checking ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Skill Performance

THE EFFECT OF BODY CHECKING POLICY CHANGE ON CONTACT MECHANISMS IN 13 AND 14 YEAR OLD YOUTH ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 357.1-357
Author(s):  
German Martinez ◽  
Leticia Janzen ◽  
Maciej Krolikowski ◽  
Nicole Romanow ◽  
Luz Palacios-Derflingher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Body Checking ◽  
Hockey Players

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Traumatic and Overuse Injuries in Swiss Professional Male Ice Hockey Players

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 232596712096472
Author(s):  
Romana Brunner ◽  
Mario Bizzini ◽  
Karin Niedermann ◽  
Nicola A. Maffiuletti
Keyword(s):  
Relative Effect ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Overuse Injuries ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
Time Loss ◽  
Traumatic Injuries ◽  
Trauma Research ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
National League

Background: Ice hockey injury patterns in Europe were last evaluated in the 1990s. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency, type, location, and incidence of traumatic injuries, as well as the prevalence and relative effect of overuse injuries in professional male ice hockey players. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Traumatic injuries were assessed using a standardized injury report form over a 1-year period (including the preparatory phase and season). The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Overuse Injury Questionnaire was used to determine overall and substantial overuse injuries and their relative effect on ice hockey players. Results: Five Swiss National League teams participated in the study. From a total of 321 recorded injuries, 179 led to time loss from sport. The game-related time-loss injury incidence during the season was 88.6/1000 player-game hours.Time-loss injuries affected mainly the hip/groin/thigh region (23%), followed by the head (17%). Most time-loss injuries were classified as muscle strains (24%), followed by concussions (18%). The most common injury mechanism involved collision with an opponent’s body (31%), and right forward players (23%) were most likely to report a game-related injury. Most injuries (27%) occurred within the defending zone along the boards. The average prevalence rates of all overuse and substantial overuse injuries were 49% and 13%, respectively. The hip/groin displayed the highest average prevalence for all overuse problems (16%), translating to the highest relative effect. Conclusion: Muscle strains and concussions were the most frequent time-loss injuries in Swiss professional ice hockey players. The hip/groin was the most affected region for both traumatic and overuse injuries.

scholarly journals Sports Medicine Staffing Patterns and Incidence of Injury in Collegiate Men's Ice Hockey

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 587-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine M. Baugh ◽  
Zachary Y. Kerr ◽  
Emily Kroshus ◽  
Bailey L. Lanser ◽  
Tory R. Lindley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Athletic Trainers ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
Graduate Assistant ◽  
Time Loss ◽  
Injury Rates ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Patient Load ◽  
Staffing Patterns

Context The relative availability of clinicians as well as the types and training of health care providers have been associated with morbidity and mortality in non-athletic health care settings. Whether staffing variations are associated with injury incidence in collegiate athletes is unknown. Objective To evaluate whether the institutional ratio of athletes to athletic trainers (patient load) or the ratio of staff to nonstaff (graduate assistant and certified intern) athletic trainers or both is associated with the incidence of injuries sustained by male ice hockey athletes at the school. Design Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's ice hockey teams. Patients or Other Participants Collegiate men's ice hockey athletes. Main Outcome Measure(s) The NCAA Injury Surveillance Program collected data from collegiate men's ice hockey athletes. Staffing patterns were obtained through telephone interviews. Injury counts, injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures, and injury rate ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and compared between the following groups: (1) schools with high (versus low) patient load and (2) schools with high (versus low) ratio of staff to nonstaff (graduate assistant and certified intern) athletic trainers. Results Both the patient load and relative number of staff athletic trainers were associated with variations in the incidences and types of diagnosed injuries in male ice hockey players. Specifically, fewer injuries were diagnosed by clinicians at institutions with high patient loads. The rates of injury overall and non–time-loss injuries were lower in the high patient-load group. Time-loss injury rates, severe injury rates, concussion rates, and overall rates of injury during competition were greater in the group with a higher proportion of staff athletic trainers, whereas non–time-loss injury rates were lower. Conclusions In this study of collegiate men's ice hockey players, athlete health outcomes were directly related to the number and types of clinicians available. Future researchers should evaluate whether this finding extends beyond men's ice hockey.

scholarly journals LO47: Concussions in minor hockey players before and after implementation of a policy to limit body checking

CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S24
Author(s):  
N. Loewen ◽  
L. Gaudet ◽  
B. Franczak ◽  
B. Rowe
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
International Classification Of Diseases ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Record System ◽  
Body Checking ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Classification Of Diseases

Introduction: Concussions are one of the most common sports-related injuries presenting to emergency departments (EDs), and are particularly frequent among players of contact sports such as ice hockey (hockey). Studies of youth hockey players report increased concussion incidence when participating in levels of hockey that allow body-checking. In 2016, an Edmonton minor hockey organization implemented a policy to remove body checking from play for non-elite levels of Bantam (13-14 years) and Midget (15-17 years). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of this policy on occurrence of concussions in male minor hockey players. Methods: Alberta Health Services Sport and Recreation codes (SR = 54) were used to identify Bantam and Midget hockey players presenting to Edmonton Zone emergency departments (ED) during the 2013/2014 to 2016/2017 hockey seasons from the National Ambulatory Care Record System. Injured hockey players with a concussion were identified using International Classification of Diseases 10-CA diagnosis code S06.0. Odds ratios (OR) of concussions among total hockey injuries before (2013-2016) and after (2016-2017) the policy are reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Differences were assessed using Pearson's χ2 test. Results: During the study period, 1978 minor hockey players presented to an Edmonton Zone ED with a hockey-related injury, including 272 players with a concussion (14%). Most of the injuries occurred to Midget players (n = 1274). The proportions of concussion were similar before and after the policy change for players of all ages (OR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.92) and for injured Bantam players (OR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.59 to 1.55); however, there was a significant reduction in concussions as a proportion of all injuries for Midget players before and after the policy change (OR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.36 to 1.00). Conclusion: In the initial year of implementation, the policy to limit body-checking to elite levels of play had mixed results. While the policy change did not result in a significant reduction in concussions overall, or for Bantam players, Midget players did experience a significant reduction in concussions after the policy change. The reasons behind these age-related differences require further investigation. Moreover, further evaluation of the policy using additional years of post-policy data, as well as hockey registration numbers, is needed to evaluate the sustainability of its effect.

scholarly journals The Effect of Body Checking Policy Changes on Concussion Incidence in Canadian Male Youth Ice Hockey Players: A Critically Appraised Topic

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 774-777
Author(s):  
Brittany M. Ingram ◽  
Melissa C. Kay ◽  
Christina B. Vander Vegt ◽  
Johna K. Register-Mihalik
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Body Checking ◽  
Male Youth ◽  
Hockey Players

Clinical Scenario: Current studies have identified body checking as the most common cause of sports-related concussion in ice hockey across all divisions and levels. As a result, many hockey organizations, particularly in youth sports, have implemented rules making body checking to the head, face, and/or neck illegal. Such a rule, in Canada, makes age 13 the first age in which individuals can engage in body checking. Despite these changes, effectiveness of their implementation on the incidence of concussion in Canadian male youth ice hockey players remains unclear. Clinical Question: What is the effect of body checking policy changes on concussion incidence in male youth ice hockey players? Summary of Key Findings: Of the 3 included studies, 2 studies reported a decrease in the incidence of concussion once a body checking policy change was implemented. The third study showed an increase; however, it is important to note that this may be due, in part, to increased awareness leading to better reporting of injuries. Clinical Bottom Line: Current evidence supports a relationship between body checking policy implementation and decreased concussion incidence; however, more research is needed to understand the long-term implications of policy change and the effects in other leagues. In addition, further data are needed to differentiate between increased concussion incidence resulting from concussion education efforts that may improve disclosure and increased concussion incidence as a direct result of policy changes. Strength of Recommendation: Grade B evidence exists that policy changes regarding body checking decrease concussion incidence in male youth ice hockey players.

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