Abstract
Objective:
To compare physical contacts (PCs), including head contacts (HCs), suspected concussion, and nonconcussion injury incidence rates between youth ringette and female ice hockey.
Design:
Cross-sectional.
Setting:
Alberta ice arenas.
Participants:
Players participating in 8 U16AA (ages 14-15 years) ringette and 8 U15AA (ages 13-14 years) female ice hockey games during the 2021 to 2022 season.
Assessment of Risk Factors:
Dartfish video-analysis software was used to analyze video recordings.
Main Outcome Measures:
Univariate Poisson regression analyses (adjusted for cluster by team-game, offset by game minutes) were used to estimate PCs (including HCs) and suspected injury (concussion and nonconcussion) and concussion-specific IRs and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) to compare sports. Proportions of all PCs that were body checks (level 4-5 trunk PC) and direct HCs (HC1) penalized were reported.
Results:
Ringette had a 2.6-fold higher rate of body checking compared with hockey (IRR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.59-4.37). Ringette also had a 2-fold higher rate of HC1 compared with hockey (IRR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.37-3.16). A 3.4-fold higher rate of suspected injury was found in ringette (IRR = 3.37, 95% CI: 1.40-8.15). There was no significant difference in suspected concussion IRs in ringette compared with hockey (IRR = 1.93, 95% CI: 0.43-8.74). Despite being prohibited in both sports, only a small proportion of body checks (Ringette = 18%; Hockey = 17%) and HC1 (Ringette = 6%; Hockey = 6%) were penalized.
Conclusions:
Higher rates of body checking, HC1, and suspected injuries were found in ringette compared with female ice hockey. Body checking and HC1 were rarely penalized, despite rules disallowing them in both sports. Future research should consider other youth age groups.
To compare physical contacts (PCs), including head contacts (HCs), suspected concussion, and nonconcussion injury incidence rates between youth ringette and female ice hockey.
Design:
Cross-sectional.
Setting:
Alberta ice arenas.
Participants:
Players participating in 8 U16AA (ages 14-15 years) ringette and 8 U15AA (ages 13-14 years) female ice hockey games during the 2021 to 2022 season.
Assessment of Risk Factors:
Dartfish video-analysis software was used to analyze video recordings.
Main Outcome Measures:
Univariate Poisson regression analyses (adjusted for cluster by team-game, offset by game minutes) were used to estimate PCs (including HCs) and suspected injury (concussion and nonconcussion) and concussion-specific IRs and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) to compare sports. Proportions of all PCs that were body checks (level 4-5 trunk PC) and direct HCs (HC1) penalized were reported.
Results:
Ringette had a 2.6-fold higher rate of body checking compared with hockey (IRR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.59-4.37). Ringette also had a 2-fold higher rate of HC1 compared with hockey (IRR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.37-3.16). A 3.4-fold higher rate of suspected injury was found in ringette (IRR = 3.37, 95% CI: 1.40-8.15). There was no significant difference in suspected concussion IRs in ringette compared with hockey (IRR = 1.93, 95% CI: 0.43-8.74). Despite being prohibited in both sports, only a small proportion of body checks (Ringette = 18%; Hockey = 17%) and HC1 (Ringette = 6%; Hockey = 6%) were penalized.
Conclusions:
Higher rates of body checking, HC1, and suspected injuries were found in ringette compared with female ice hockey. Body checking and HC1 were rarely penalized, despite rules disallowing them in both sports. Future research should consider other youth age groups.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 10.1097/JSM.0000000000001293 |
| Journal | Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine |
| Early online date | 30 Oct 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Oct 2024 |
Acknowledgements
The Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre is one of the International Research Centres for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health, supported by the International Olympic Committee.Funding
The Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre is one of the International Research Centres for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health, supported by the International Olympic Committee. The authors acknowledge funding from Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Alberta Innovates Health Solutions, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation. C.A. Emery is supported by a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Concussion.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Alberta Innovates Health Solutions | |
| Hotchkiss Brain Institute | |
| Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation | |
| Canada Research Chairs | |
| Canadian Institutes of Health Research |
Keywords
- athletic injury
- concussion
- female
- ice hockey
- ringette
- video analysis
- youth
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation