Children's ice hockey injuries

J. D. Brust, B. J. Leonard, A. Pheley and W. O. Roberts
University of Minnesota, Maternal and Child Health Major, Minneapolis 55455.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the rate, type, and severity of injuries to child hockey players as well as assessing coaches', parents', and players' attitudes and knowledge of hockey. DESIGN--A prospective observation of a population's injuries using injury-reporting forms and surveys. SETTING--A community-organized hockey program in Minnesota. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty boys, aged 9 through 15 years, who played ice hockey during the 1990-1991 winter season. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS--Injuries were reported by multiple observers, including coaches, managers, and trained independent observers at the time an injury occurred; coaches, parents, and players were surveyed regarding hockey injuries, knowledge, and attitudes. One in three players experienced an injury during the season. The most common injuries were contusions. Six of 100 players experienced injuries severe enough to require cessation of physical activities for 8 to 25 days or longer. Weight differences of 53 kg and height differences of 55 cm were reported between Bantam-aged players (13 through 15 years), and body contact, including legal checks, accounted for 86% of injuries during games. Illegal checks and violations were associated with 66% of injuries during games, yet only four penalties (14%) were assessed. In addition, one in three games in which an injury resulted was described as hostile and 15% of the injuries were considered intentional. CONCLUSIONS--Eliminating violence and body checking for prepubertal boys while emphasizing rule enforcement and good sportsmanship are recommended.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Quantifying the risk of sports injury: a systematic review of activity-specific rates for children under 16 years of age
Spinks and McClure
Br. J. Sports. Med. 2007;41:548-557.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Injury Rates, Risk Factors, and Mechanisms of Injury in Minor Hockey
Emery and Meeuwisse
Am J Sports Med 2006;34:1960-1969.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Should bodychecking be allowed in minor hockey?
King and LeBlanc
CMAJ 2006;175:163-163.
FULL TEXT  

Body-Checking Rules and Childhood Injuries in Ice Hockey
Macpherson et al.
Pediatrics 2006;117:e143-e147.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Characteristics of Ice Hockey-Related Injuries Treated in US Emergency Departments, 2001-2002
Hostetler et al.
Pediatrics 2004;114:e661-e666.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Bodychecking in hockey
Ross
CMAJ 2004;170:15-15.
FULL TEXT  

Bodychecking in hockey
Cusimano and Marchie
CMAJ 2004;170:16-18.
FULL TEXT  

Evaluation of the ThinkFirst Canada, Smart Hockey, brain and spinal cord injury prevention video * COMMENTARY
Cook et al.
Inj. Prev. 2003;9:361-366.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Injuries to the Upper Extremity in Ice Hockey: Analysis of a Series of 760 Injuries
Molsa et al.
Am J Sports Med 2003;31:751-757.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Bodychecking and concussions in ice hockey: Should our youth pay the price?
Marchie and Cusimano
CMAJ 2003;169:124-128.
FULL TEXT  

The impact of face shield use on concussions in ice hockey: a multivariate analysis
Benson et al.
Br. J. Sports. Med. 2002;36:27-32.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Safety in Youth Ice Hockey: The Effects of Body Checking
Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness
Pediatrics 2000;105:657-658.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

ICE HOCKEY INJURIES IN CHILDREN
JWatch General 1992;1992:6-6.
FULL TEXT