title: A pilot survey on injury and safety concerns in international sledge hockey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe sledge hockey injury patterns, safety issues and to develop potential injury prevention strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot survey study of international sledge hockey professionals, including trainers, physiotherapists, physicians, coaches and/or general managers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Personal encounter or online correspondence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sledge hockey professionals; a total of 10 respondents from the 5 top-ranked international teams recruited by personal encounter or online correspondence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive Data reports on sledge athlete injury characteristics, quality of rules and enforcement, player equipment, challenges in the medical management during competition, and overall safety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Muscle strains and concussions were identified as common, and injuries were reported to affect the upper body more frequently than the lower body. Overuse and body checking were predominant injury mechanisms. Safety concerns included excessive elbowing, inexperienced refereeing and inadequate equipment standards.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper is the first publication primarily focused on sledge hockey injury and safety. This information provides unique opportunity for the consideration of implementation and evaluation of safety strategies. Safety interventions could include improved hand protection, cut-resistant materials in high-risk areas, increased vigilance to reduce intentional head-contact, lowered rink boards and modified bathroom floor surfacing.
authors: University of British Columbia Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Hawkeswood
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Finlayson
authors: Russ
authors: R
authors: O'Connor
authors: Hugh
authors: H
authors: Anton