Citation

Anderson GR, Melugin HP, Stuart MJ. Sports Health 2019; ePub(ePub): 1941738119849105.

Affiliation

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1941738119849105

PMID

31158326

Abstract

CONTEXT: Hockey is a skillful contact sport with an elevated injury risk at higher levels of play. An understanding of injury incidence, type, mechanism, and severity at various levels of competition aids the clinician treating these athletes. The purpose of this clinical review is to discuss the epidemiology of hockey injuries at various levels of participation, including youth, high school, junior, college, and professional. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A literature search was performed by a review of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane articles published from 1988 to 2017. Studies were included in this review if determined to be of high quality and containing injury data relevant to the levels of competition. Pertinent data regarding ice hockey injury epidemiology and prevention at various levels of competition was analyzed. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical review. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.

RESULTS: Youth, high school, junior, college, and professional hockey players have unique injury patterns. Injuries occur much more often in a game compared with a practice, and injury risk increases with each level of competition. Preventative measures, such as mandatory facial protection and delayed body checking in games until age 13 years, are proven strategies to reduce the risk of facial injury and concussion.

CONCLUSION: An understanding of common injury types and mechanisms according to age and level of play aids the clinician in diagnosis and management. This information can also guide preventative strategies in the areas of education, coaching, rule enforcement, rule modifications, equipment improvement, and sportsmanship.

Language: en

Keywords

hockey; injuries; prevention; treatment