title: Injuries in Junior A ice hockey. A three-year prospective study.
abstract: This 3-year prospective cohort observational analysis of elite amateur hockey players ranging in age from 17 to 20 years on a United States Hockey League team describes ice hockey injuries using a strict definition of injury, standardized reporting strategies, and diagnosis by a team physician. One hundred forty-two injuries were recorded for an on-ice injury rate of 9.4 per 1000 player hours. A player was 25 times more likely to be injured in a game (96.1 per 1000 player-game hours) than in practice (3.9 per 1000 player-practice hours). Game-related injuries were more frequent in the third period, and practice-related injuries occurred more often in the first third of the season. Collisions represented 51% of the total injuries. The most common types of injuries were strains, lacerations, contusions, and sprains. The face and the shoulder were most frequently injured. A facial laceration was the most common injury; acromioclavicular joint sprain was the second most common injury. Facial lacerations typically occurred in games and were stick related. Further research is necessary to determine if injuries in Junior A amateur ice hockey can be reduced by mandatory full facial protection, enforcement of existing rules, improvement in shoulder pad design, and by focusing more attention on stretching programs.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopedics, Rochester, MN 55095, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology; D006688:Hockey / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology