TY - JOUR

T1 - What is the Injury Incidence and Profile in Professional Male Ice Hockey? A Systematic Review

AU - Cattaneo, Marco

AU - Ramponi, Carlo

AU - Thorborg, Kristian

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s).

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - BACKGROUND Professional male ice hockey is characterized by a congested in-season match schedule and by different scenarios where the whole body is exposed to great internal and external forces. Consequently, injuries occur from head to toe. However, there is a lack of data synthesis regarding the injury incidence and profile in this population. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to quantify the injury incidence rates in professional male ice hockey. STUDY DESIGN Systematic Review METHODS The electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, ProQuest-Sport medicine & Education Index, and Pro-Quest Dissertation and Thesis were searched utilizing terms related to ice hockey and injuries. Studies were included if they provided the incidence of injury in professional male hockey players and reported injuries in terms of time lost. The modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale for cohort studies and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology-Sports Injury and Illness Surveillance Statement were used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. RESULTS Eleven studies were included in the review. Match injury incidence ranged from 38 to 88.6 injuries/1000 hours of exposure, whereas training injury incidence varied from 0.4 to 2.6 injuries/1000 hours of exposure. Injuries of traumatic origin accounted for 76% to 96.6% of all injuries, with contusions and lacerations being the most common. Severe injuries accounted for 7.8%-20% of all injuries. The lower extremities were the most susceptible to injury, comprising 27% to 53.7% of all reported injuries. CONCLUSION Professional male ice hockey players are exposed to a substantial risk of injury during competitions, with lower extremities being the most commonly affected body part. The majority of injuries are traumatic and severe injuries account for a notable portion of overall injury cases.

AB - BACKGROUND Professional male ice hockey is characterized by a congested in-season match schedule and by different scenarios where the whole body is exposed to great internal and external forces. Consequently, injuries occur from head to toe. However, there is a lack of data synthesis regarding the injury incidence and profile in this population. PURPOSE The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to quantify the injury incidence rates in professional male ice hockey. STUDY DESIGN Systematic Review METHODS The electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, ProQuest-Sport medicine & Education Index, and Pro-Quest Dissertation and Thesis were searched utilizing terms related to ice hockey and injuries. Studies were included if they provided the incidence of injury in professional male hockey players and reported injuries in terms of time lost. The modified Newcastle Ottawa Scale for cohort studies and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology-Sports Injury and Illness Surveillance Statement were used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. RESULTS Eleven studies were included in the review. Match injury incidence ranged from 38 to 88.6 injuries/1000 hours of exposure, whereas training injury incidence varied from 0.4 to 2.6 injuries/1000 hours of exposure. Injuries of traumatic origin accounted for 76% to 96.6% of all injuries, with contusions and lacerations being the most common. Severe injuries accounted for 7.8%-20% of all injuries. The lower extremities were the most susceptible to injury, comprising 27% to 53.7% of all reported injuries. CONCLUSION Professional male ice hockey players are exposed to a substantial risk of injury during competitions, with lower extremities being the most commonly affected body part. The majority of injuries are traumatic and severe injuries account for a notable portion of overall injury cases.

KW - athletic injuries

KW - ice hockey

KW - incidence

KW - professional athletes

U2 - 10.26603/001c.90591

DO - 10.26603/001c.90591

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38179586

AN - SCOPUS:85181917146

VL - 19

SP - 1398

EP - 1409

JO - International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy

JF - International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy

SN - 2159-2896

IS - 1

ER -