%0 Journal Article
%T Concussions in the National Hockey League: analysis of incidence, return to play, and performance
%J Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine
%D 2022
%A Andrews, Erickson
%A Jildeh, Toufic R.
%A Abbas, Muhammad J.
%A Lindsay-Rivera, Kevin
%A Berguson, Jon
%A Okoroha, Kelechi R.
%V 10
%N 1
%P e23259671211052069-e23259671211052069
%X BACKGROUND: Concussion injuries are common in professional hockey; however, their effect on player performance remains unclear. <br><br>PURPOSE: To quantify the effect of concussions on the performance of position players in the National Hockey League (NHL). STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. <br><br>METHODS: Concussion data from the NHL were collected using publicly available databases for the seasons between 2009-2010 and 2015-2016, coinciding with new NHL concussion rules. Age, body mass index, position, number of concussions during a player's NHL career, games played, and time on ice were recorded. Basic and advanced performance metrics were collected for 1 season pre- and postconcussion (short-term period) and 3 seasons before and after concussion (long-term period) to assess short- and long-term changes in performance. A control group of players without an identified concussion who competed during the study period was assembled for comparison. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to evaluate pre- to postconcussion data in the short- and long-term settings as well as to compare the cohorts at each time point. <br><br>RESULTS: Overall, 48 players were identified as having a concussion during the study period. Players missed 17.2 ± 15.1 days (mean ± standard deviation) and 7.5 ± 6.9 games postconcussion. There were no significant differences in any metric when pre- and postconcussion intraseason performance was assessed. Athletes who were concussed demonstrated significantly deceased performance metrics (assists per 60 minutes, points per 60 minutes, Corsi percentage, and Fenwick percentage) in the 3 years after the concussion as compared with the year before injury (P <.05). However, no difference was found between the concussed group and matched control group in the short- or long-term period. Players with concussion played fewer career games (856.4 ± 287.4 vs 725.7 ± 215.0; P <.05) than did controls. <br><br>CONCLUSION: A high rate of NHL players were able to return to play after a concussion injury. Players with concussion did not experience a reduction in performance metrics in the short- or long-term setting when compared with matched controls. The concussed cohort maintained a similar workload up to 3 seasons postconcussion but played in fewer career games when compared with matched controls.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I SAGE Publishing
%@ 2325-9671
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/23259671211052069