Concussions in hockey: there is cause for concern.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to document various aspects of concussion in Canadian Amateur hockey including demographics, causes, treatment, and prevention in order to guide future recommendations on how to reduce injury.


METHODS
A detailed prospective and retrospective concussion history was obtained from British Columbia Junior Hockey League players over the course of two seasons (1998-2000).


RESULTS
Higher rates of concussions occur in games versus practice, and there was an overrepresentation of forwards injured versus defensemen or goaltenders. There was between 4.63 and 5.95 concussions per 1000 player/game hours with the average age of the first hockey-related concussion in the 15th year. The greatest cause of concussion was contact with the ice and/or the boards. Fighting was not a major cause of concussion, although other illegal actions such as elbowing were.


CONCLUSIONS
The primary recommendation to reduce the number and severity of concussions is to eliminate plays where there is a demonstrable intent to injure another player. Concussions in hockey are of considerable concern; however, there is now encouraging information with respect to the treatment of these injuries.
Goodman
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Human Motor Systems Laboratory, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada, V5A-1S6. goodman@sfu.ca
Gaetz
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Meichenbaum
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D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015984:Causality; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006688:Hockey / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012008:Recurrence; D019876:Sports Equipment; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000453:epidemiology; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control