Citation

Harris AW, Voaklander DC, Drul C. Clin. J. Sport. Med. 2012; 22(6): 455-461.

Affiliation

Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JSM.0b013e318259ed09

PMID

22673536

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: To examine ice hockey injury rates presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in 2 separate cohorts of players before and after a policy change for age groups in minor hockey. DESIGN:: Retrospective cross-sectional study. SETTING:: Retrospective review of ice hockey injuries presenting to 2 tertiary care and 5 community care EDs in Edmonton, Alberta. PATIENTS:: Two cohorts of minor ice hockey players were constructed. The pre-age change cohort consisted of 4215 registered male hockey players. The post-age change cohort consisted of 3811 registered male hockey players. ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS:: The risk of fracture, head and neck injury (intracranial and nonintracranial), and all other injuries presenting to EDs were compared between the pre-age change and post-age change cohorts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:: Presentation to an ED with an injury occurring in ice hockey between September 1, and April 31, for the years 1997 through 2010. RESULTS:: Overall, significantly lower injury rates were observed in the post-age change cohort for players in the Peewee division; however, no significant differences were observed for the rate of fractures, and intracranial or nonintracranial head and neck injuries. There were no statistically significant differences observed between the pre-age change and post-age change cohorts in the Atom or Bantam divisions. CONCLUSIONS:: Introducing body checking 1 year earlier than in a previous cohort (11 vs 12 years of age) neither significantly decreased nor increased the rate of serious ice hockey injuries occurring 2 years after the introduction of body checking. Further research is recommended to evaluate the claim that introducing body checking lowers injury rates in older divisions of hockey.

Language: en