Is it time to re-evaluate the ban on body checking in women's ice hockey as a key parameter for reducing the incidence of concussions?

This perspective report examines temporal trends in concussion rates in relation to changes in permitted physical contact in the Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL). Over three seasons, the league gradually allowed more physical play, culminating in the current permission of body checking from the 2022/2023 season. Contrary to traditional assumptions, reported concussion rates declined during a period of progressively increased permitted physical contact. However, these observational findings should be interpreted with caution, as multiple contextual factors may have influenced the results. Also, the results do not establish a causal relationship between body checking policy and concussion incidence and rather than supporting immediate policy change, the findings highlight the need for continued monitoring and further research into how rules, education, and player behavior interact to influence concussion risk.