Key result
Regular recreational ice hockey participation among physically active males aged ≥35 years is associated with significantly lower rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Why the study?
Does playing recreational ice hockey regularly improve health outcomes in physically active males age 35 or over compared to other physical activities?
Cross-Sectional
Does playing recreational ice hockey regularly improve health outcomes in physically active males age 35 or over compared to other physical activities?
Regular participation in recreational ice hockey among adult males is associated with lower rates of cardiometabolic diseases and better self-assessed health compared to other physical activities.
Should not yet alter activity recommendations; hypothesis-generating for cardiometabolic associations of recreational ice hockey in active males ≥35 years.
More than 1 million Canadian adults play recreational ice hockey. Compared to elite players, very little is known about the physical and health characteristics of people who play the game for fun. Analyzing data from Statistics Canada's 2011/12 Canadian Community Health Survey, the paper found that there is an association between physically active males age 35 or over who play ice hockey regularly (at least once a week) and enhanced health more so than other physically active males. While these players are larger in body size, they have significantly lower rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease and report significantly higher rates of self-assessed health. Given the potential health benefits associated with this high intensity sport, the paper discusses ways in which participation can be promoted among less physically active adults and people who are new to the game or who have historically lower levels of participation including women and recent immigrants. Finally, the paper argues that compared to the very high costs associated with child and youth hockey, participation in adult recreational ice hockey is quite affordable.
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Kitchen et al. (2016) conducted a cross-sectional in Health characteristics. Recreational ice hockey vs. Other physically active males was evaluated on Rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and self-assessed health. Regular recreational ice hockey participation among physically active males aged ≥35 years is associated with significantly lower rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
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