Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
OBJECTIVE: Ice hockey, a popular sport in some regions, has potential for injury due to the velocities of players, pucks, and sticks. Previous studies conducted worldwide have shown that the rate of injury increases as the size and the speed of players increase, as well as when checking is allowed. However, national data about the annual number and types of injuries among ice hockey players are lacking. Data from previous studies were collected from regional tournaments, collegiate teams, local emergency departments (EDs), and different countries. The purpose of this article is to examine ice hockey injuries using a national US database to determine the age distribution of total injuries, injury types, and body regions injured, with a particular focus on ice hockey players 18,000 youths or =18 years old). The incidence of head injuries increased as age decreased, although the trend was not statistically significant. The upper extremity (44%) accounted for the highest total percentages of body regions injured for youths or =18 years old had significantly more lacerations than younger players (38% of injuries for 18- to 24-year-olds; 25% for 25- to 34-year-olds; 50% for 35- to 44-year-olds compared with 19% for 6- to 11-year-olds and 14% for 12- to 17-year-olds). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents had the greatest number of ice hockey-related injuries treated in NEISS hospital EDs in 2001-2002; thus, ongoing efforts to develop injury prevention strategies should focus on this age group. Players or =18 years old. Males experienced the vast majority of all ice hockey-related injuries, with females representing a higher percentage of injuries among youths than among adults. Children and adults alike can reap the physical fitness and social benefits from ice hockey, when they are able to avoid predictable and preventable injuries.
Hostetler et al. (Wed,) studied this question.