title: Injuries in women's international ice hockey: an 8-year study of the World Championship tournaments and Olympic Winter Games.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We report the incidence, type, mechanism and severity of ice hockey injuries in women's international ice hockey championships.
  
  
  METHODS
  All injuries in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship, World Women's under-18 Championship and Olympic Winter Games tournaments were analysed over an 8-year period using a strict injury definition, standardised reporting and team physician diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  168 injuries were recorded in 637 games over an 8-year period resulting in an injury rate (IR) of 6.4 per 1000 player-games and 22.0/1000 player-game hours. The IRs were 2.7/1000 player-games for the lower body, 1.4 for the upper body, 1.3 for the head and face and 0.9 for the spine and trunk. Contusion was the most common injury followed by a sprain. The most commonly injured site was the knee (48.6% of lower body injuries; IR 1.3/1000 player-games). The Medial collateral ligament sprain occurred in 37.1% and ACL rupture in 11.4% of knee injuries. A concussion (74.3%; IR 1.0/1000 player-games) was the most common head injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of injury to female ice hockey players at World Championship and Olympic tournaments was about half of that observed in the men's Championships. Full facial protection decreases the risk of lacerations and should be continued in all future female tournaments. More effective prevention strategies for knee, ankle and shoulder injuries are needed in women's ice hockey. Improved concussion education is necessary to promote more consistent diagnosis and return to play protocols.
authors.affiliation: Medisport Ltd, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuominen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Sport Medicine Centre, Ottawa, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aubry
authors.affiliation: Injury and Osteoporosis Research Center, UKK Institute, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kannus
authors.affiliation: Injury and Osteoporosis Research Center, UKK Institute, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tokola
authors.affiliation: Tampere Research Center of Sports Medicine, UKK Institute, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Jari
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parkkari
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006688:Hockey / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007596:Joints / Q000293:injuries; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000453:epidemiology; D060726:Torso / Q000293:injuries
keywords: Concussion; Epidemiology; Female; Ice hockey; Injuries