Female Ice Hockey Research Articles

Are There Differences in Ice Hockey Injuries Between Sexes?: A Systematic Review.

Background:Men’s ice hockey allows for body checking, and women’s ice hockey prohibits it. Studies have reported injury data on both sexes, but no systematic reviews have compared the injury patterns between male and female ice hockey players.Hypothesis:Men’s and women’s ice hockey would have different types of injuries, and this difference would extend across the different age groups and levels of play.Study Design:Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:Three databases, 3 scientific journals, and selected bibliographies were searched to identify articles relevant to this study. Articles were further screened by the use of predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Twenty-two studies met these criteria and were subsequently reviewed.Results:Men sustained higher rates of injuries than women at all age levels, and both sexes sustained at least twice as many injuries in games than practices. Both sexes sustained most of their injuries from player contact. Men and women in college sustained most injuries to the head and face, and women suffered from higher percentages of concussion. At all ages and levels of play, men had higher rates of upper extremity injuries (shoulder), while women were found to sustain more injuries to the lower extremity (thigh, knee).Conclusion:Although findings showed men sustaining higher rates of injuries than women, the predominant mechanism of player contact was the same. The most common locations and types of injuries in female ice hockey players are comparable to other sports played by women, and similar interventions could offer protection against injury.Clinical Relevance:Further studies that report injury data for women playing ice hockey at all levels will assist in understanding what prevention strategies should be implemented.

Head impact exposure in male and female collegiate ice hockey players

The purpose of this study was to quantify head impact exposure (frequency, location and magnitude of head impacts) for individual male and female collegiate ice hockey players and to investigate differences in exposure by sex, player position, session type, and team. Ninety-nine (41 male, 58 female) players were enrolled and 37,411 impacts were recorded over three seasons. Frequency of impacts varied significantly by sex (males: 287 per season, females: 170, p<0.001) and helmet impact location (p<0.001), but not by player position (p=0.088). Head impact frequency also varied by session type; both male and female players sustained more impacts in games than in practices (p<0.001), however the magnitude of impacts did not differ between session types. There was no difference in 95th percentile peak linear acceleration between sexes (males: 41.6g, females: 40.8g), but 95th percentile peak rotational acceleration and HITsp (a composite severity measure) were greater for males than females (4424, 3409rad/s2, and 25.6, 22.3, respectively). Impacts to the back of the helmet resulted in the greatest 95th percentile peak linear accelerations for males (45.2g) and females (50.4g), while impacts to the side and back of the head were associated with the greatest 95th percentile peak rotational accelerations (males: 4719, 4256rad/sec2, females: 3567, 3784rad/sec2 respectively). It has been proposed that reducing an individual's head impact exposure is a practical approach for reducing the risk of brain injuries. Strategies to decrease an individual athlete's exposure need to be sport and gender specific, with considerations for team and session type.

A Novel Posterior Arthrotomy Approach for the Treatment of a Large Osteochondral Defect of the Posterior Aspect of the Lateral Femoral Condyle of the Knee: A Case Report and Technical Note.

Symptomatic osteochondral lesions of the knee pose a considerable treatment challenge to orthopaedic surgeons, particularly when they occur in young active patients1,2. The prognosis of osteochondral defects is worse when the defect is sizable, when it is located in a weight-bearing portion of the knee, and when there is considerable bone loss3,4. Hyaline cartilage is unable to heal spontaneously because of its unique structure and distinctive properties. As a result, many chondral resurfacing techniques have been employed for the treatment of osteochondral injuries5-7. Osteochondral autograft transplantation is successful in covering relatively small defects, but has considerable technical limitations and has been associated with increased donor-site morbidity for larger defects (>2 × 2 cm)8,9. Therefore, allografts have been proposed for the management of larger defects10,11. One of the critical issues regarding surgical technique is the perpendicular placement of the bone plug3. Incongruency, resulting from proud graft placement, can give rise to a “kissing lesion” on the contralateral surface12. We report the case of a patient with a large osteochondral lesion of the posterior aspect of the lateral femoral condyle of the knee. We also outline the surgical technique for a knee arthrotomy with a posterior approach to gain access to this difficult-to-reach area. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and she provided consent. An eighteen-year-old female high-school elite-level ice hockey goalie presented with an eighteen-month history of left lateral knee pain, exacerbated by assuming the butterfly position (Fig. 1). There was no history of any specific injury, and the symptoms had increased gradually over time. The pain prevented her from effectively performing the role of goalie. Conservative measures, including …

Use of a Novel Impact-Sensing Technology to Compare Head Impact Exposure Between Male and Female High School Ice Hockey Athletes: A Pilot Observational Study

PM&RVolume 5, Issue 9S p. S136-S136 801. Best Musculoskeletal Medicine Research Poster Presentation Use of a Novel Impact-Sensing Technology to Compare Head Impact Exposure Between Male and Female High School Ice Hockey Athletes: A Pilot Observational Study James T. Eckner MD, M.S, James T. Eckner MD, M.S University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesSearch for more papers by this authorSteven P. Broglio PhD, A.T.C, Steven P. Broglio PhD, A.T.C University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesSearch for more papers by this authorJeffrey S. Kutcher MD, Jeffrey S. Kutcher MD University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesSearch for more papers by this authorJames A. Ashton-Miller PhD, James A. Ashton-Miller PhD University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesSearch for more papers by this author James T. Eckner MD, M.S, James T. Eckner MD, M.S University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesSearch for more papers by this authorSteven P. Broglio PhD, A.T.C, Steven P. Broglio PhD, A.T.C University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesSearch for more papers by this authorJeffrey S. Kutcher MD, Jeffrey S. Kutcher MD University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesSearch for more papers by this authorJames A. Ashton-Miller PhD, James A. Ashton-Miller PhD University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United StatesSearch for more papers by this author First published: 17 September 2013 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2013.08.022Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume5, Issue9SSeptember 2013Pages S136-S136 RelatedInformation

Off-Ice Fitness of Elite Female Ice Hockey Players by Team Success, Age, and Player Position

This study examined off-ice fitness profiles of 204 elite female ice hockey players from 13 countries who attended a high-performance camp organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in Bratislava, Slovakia, in July of 2011. Athletes were tested using standardized protocols for vertical jump (centimeters), long jump (centimeters), 4-jump average (centimeters), elasticity ratio (4-vertical jump average/vertical jump), pull-up or inverted row (n), aerobic fitness (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max), body mass (kilograms), and body composition (% fat). These variables were examined relative to team success in major international hockey competition (group 1: Canada and USA, group 2: Sweden and Finland, group 3: All other participating countries), age group (Under 18 and Senior/Open Levels), and player position (forwards, defenders, and goalies). The athletes from countries with the best international records weighed more, yet had less body fat, had greater lower body muscular power and upper body strength, and higher aerobic capacity compared with their less successful counterparts. Compared with the younger athletes, athletes from the senior-level age group weighed more and had higher scores for lower body power, pull-ups, and aerobic capacity. There were no significant differences in anthropometric or fitness data based on player position. This study is the first to report the physical characteristics of a worldwide sample of elite female ice hockey players relative to team performance, age, and player position. Coaches should use these data to identify talent, test for strengths and weaknesses in conditioning programs, and design off-ice programs that will help athletes match the fitness profiles of the most successful teams in the world.

Age and Competition Level on Injuries in Female Ice Hockey

The objective of this study was to describe the number, types and locations of known injuries occurring across different age categories and levels of competition in female ice hockey within the Ontario Women's Hockey Association from 2004/05 to 2007/08. We further examined under which aforementioned factors and combination of factors an unusually high or low number of injuries was recorded. Secondary analysis of anonymized injury data was conducted. The most common known injury type was strain/sprain, followed by concussion while the most frequent injury location was head/face/mouth. Analysis of deviance indicated that a significantly higher than expected number of sprain/strain, concussion and laceration injuries were recorded compared to all other injury types. In addition, there were a higher number of injuries recorded at the AA level compared to all other levels of competition. Finally, the age categories of Peewee, Midget and Intermediate within the AA level of competition, as well as Senior/Adult within the Houseleague level of competition also recorded a significantly higher number of injuries compared to other combinations of descriptive factors. Further research with female youth is needed to better understand the high number of injuries, including concussions, reported overall.

What factors increase the risk of concussion in elite youth ice hockey players?

ObjectiveTo examine the risk of concussion amongst elite youth male and female ice hockey players.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingCommunity ice rinks and sport medicine clinics.Participants764 Bantam (12–14 years) and Midget (15–17 years)...

Concussion and strength performance in youth ice hockey players

ObjectiveTo explore the influence of concussion on strength performance within youth ice hockey players.DesignAthletes were assessed prospectively before and after a sport-related concussion and longitudinally across a 3-year period.SettingUniversity research...

Injury rates, types, mechanisms and risk factors in female youth ice hockey

BackgroundThe objectives of this cohort study were to examine the rate, types, mechanisms and risk factors for injury in female youth (ages 9–17) ice hockey players in the Girls Hockey...

A prospective study of physician-observed concussion during a varsity university ice hockey season: incidence and neuropsychological changes. Part 2 of 4

The primary objective of this study was to measure the incidence of concussion according to a relative number of athlete exposures among 25 male and 20 female varsity ice hockey players. The secondary objective was to present neuropsychological test results between preseason and postseason play and at 72 hours, 2 weeks, and 2 months after concussion. Every player underwent baseline assessments using the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-2 (SCAT2), Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT), and MRI. Each regular season and postseason game was observed by 2 independent observers (a physician and a nonphysician observer). Players with a diagnosed concussion were removed from the game, examined in the team physician's office using the SCAT2 and ImPACT, and sent to undergo MRI. Eleven concussions occurred during the 55 physician-observed games (20%). The incidence of concussion, expressed as number of concussions per 1000 athlete exposures, was 10.70 for men and women combined in regular season play, 11.76 for men and women combined across both the regular season and playoff season, 7.50 for men and 14.93 for women in regular season play, and 8.47 for men across both the regular season and playoff season. One male player experienced repeat concussions. No concussions were reported during practice sessions, and 1 concussion was observed and diagnosed in an exhibition game. Neuropsychological testing suggested no statistically significant preseason/postseason differences between athletes who sustained a physician-diagnosed concussion and athletes who did not sustain a physician-diagnosed concussion on either the ImPACT or SCAT2. The athletes who sustained a physician-diagnosed concussion demonstrated few reliable changes postinjury. Although the incidence of game-related concussions per 1000 athlete exposures in this study was half the highest rate reported in the authors' previous research, it was 3 times higher than the incidence reported by other authors within the literature concerning men's collegiate ice hockey and 5 times higher than the highest rate previously reported for woman's collegiate ice hockey. Interestingly, the present results suggest a substantively higher incidence of concussion among women (14.93) than men (7.50). The reproducible and significantly higher incidence of concussion among both men and woman ice hockey players, when compared with nonphysician-observed games, suggests a significant underestimation of sports concussion in the scientific literature.

Checking In

Despite the growing popularity of women's ice hockey in North America, players continue to face limitations because of the prohibition of body checking. In this paper, we argue from a liberal feminist philosophical perspective that this prohibition reinforces existing traditional stereotypes of female athletes. Because the women's game does not incorporate checking, female ice hockey players are not afforded the same opportunity to flourish as men and experience bodily agency, which results in continued male domination of the game, therefore, indirectly reinforcing a gender hierarchy in hockey and society.

Gender Differences in Head Impacts Sustained by Collegiate Ice Hockey Players

This study aimed to quantify the frequency, magnitude, and location of head impacts sustained by male and female collegiate ice hockey players during two seasons of play. During two seasons, 88 collegiate athletes (51 females, 37 males) on two female and male National Collegiate Athletic Association varsity ice hockey teams wore instrumented helmets. Each helmet was equipped with six single-axis accelerometers and a miniature data acquisition system to capture and record head impacts sustained during play. Data collected from the helmets were postprocessed to compute linear and rotational accelerations of the head as well as impact location. The head impact exposure data (frequency, location, and magnitude) were then compared between genders. Female hockey players experienced a significantly lower (P < 0.001) number of impacts per athlete exposure than males (females = 1.7 ± 0.7, males = 2.9 ± 1.2). The frequency of impacts by location was the same between genders (P > 0.278) for all locations except the right side of the head, where males received fewer impacts than females (P = 0.031). Female hockey players were 1.1 times more likely than males to sustain an impact less than 50 g, whereas males were 1.3 times more likely to sustain an impact greater than 100 g. Similarly, males were 1.9 times more likely to sustain an impact with peak rotational acceleration greater than 5000 rad·s(-2) and 3.5 times more likely to sustain an impact greater than 10,000 rad·s(-2). Although the incidence of concussion has typically been higher for female hockey players than male hockey players, female players sustain fewer impacts and impacts resulting in lower head acceleration than males. Further study is required to better understand the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors that lead to higher rates of concussion for females that have been previously reported.

Comparison of the Physical and Biomotor Characteristics, and Reaction Time between Turkish Male and Female Ice Hockey Players

The purpose of this study was to measure and compare the physical and bio motor characteristics of male and female Turkish ice hockey players. Structural and functional differences depending on the gender were investigated. Altogether, 17 male and 20 female athletes from the city of Erzurum voluntarily participated in the study. The physical measurements of each player were recorded and then isometric strength, reaction time and flexibility were measured. Statistically, t-test analysis was independently used to compare the two groups. The results of the study showed the average weight and height of male athletes were higher than those of females, despite the fact that was lower. The average isometric leg, back and handgrip strength of male athletes were also significantly higher than those of females (p < 0.01). In the sit and reach test, females were better than those males (p < 0.01), while average body flexibility measurements of males are statistically higher than those of females (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between two groups in vertical jump measurements. The average anaerobic capacity of males was significantly higher than those of females (p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the average hand reaction time between two groups. Regular measurement of physical and functional characteristics of athletes is important not only in the talent identification of athletes but also in the understanding the gender related structural and functional differences as well as in the regulation of training programs.

A Physical Profile of Elite Female Ice Hockey Players from the USA

Despite impressive numbers of hockey participants, there is little research examining elite female ice hockey players. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe the physical characteristics of elite female ice hockey players who were trying out for the 2010 US Women's Ice Hockey team. Twenty-three women participated in the study and were evaluated for body mass (kilograms), height (centimeters), age (years) vertical jump (centimeters), standing long jump (centimeters), 1RM front squat (kilograms), front squat relative to body mass (percent), 1RM bench press (kilograms), bench press relative to body mass (percent), pull-ups, and body composition (percent body fat). The athletes in this sample were 24.7 years of age (SD = 3.1) and 169.7 cm tall (SD = 6.9); on average, they weighed 70.4 kg (SD = 7.1) and reported 15.8% body fat (SD = 1.9). Mean vertical jump height was 50.3 cm (SD = 5.7) and standing long jump was 214.8 cm (SD = 10.9). Mean 1RM for the upper body strength (bench press) was 65.3 kg (SD = 12.2) (95.1 ± 15.5% of body mass), and 1RM for lower body (front squat) was 88.6 kg (SD = 11.2) (127.7 ± 16.3% of body mass). This study is the first to report the physical characteristics of elite female ice hockey players from the USA. Data should assist strength and conditioning coaches in identifying talent, testing for strengths and weaknesses, comparing future teams to these indicators, and designing programs that will enhance the performance capabilities of female ice hockey athletes.

The Relative Age Effect in Canadian University Women's Ice Hockey

The relative age effect (RAE) or potential cognitive and biological variability among individuals in the same age-grouped cohort (Baxter-Jones et al., 1994; Much and Grondin, 2001) has been observed in sport as an association between being born earlier in the selection year and greater achievement and greater likelihood of becoming an elite athlete. The RAE has been found to exist in a variety of male sports including male ice hockey, but has not been examined with regard to female ice hockey. PURPOSE: To determine if the RAE is present in Canadian women's ice hockey. METHODS: Members of the University of Alberta women's ice hockey team (n=88 players, age=21.2±2.7 yrs, 1999-2008 seasons) were interviewed for date of birth, which was coded for each player by birth quartile: Q1=Jan-Mar, Q2=Apr-Jun, Q3=Jul-Sep, or Q4=Oct-Dec. Players completed an anthropometric battery; on-ice skating performance tests: 44.80 m speed, 6.10 m acceleration, cornering S-turn agility, and Modified Repeat Sprint Skate (MRSS), and off-ice fitness tests: 40 yd dash, vertical jump, push-ups, sit-ups, and the Leger test (to estimate VO2max). MANOVAs (SPSS, Windows Version 17.0) were run to determine if there were significant differences (p<0.05) by relative age. Players' birth date quartile and ranking status by Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and Canada West (CW) for 2004-2008 pre-seasons (ranked/not ranked, n=120) were submitted to Chi square analyses to determine if the RAE was present in birth date distribution and ranking status. RESULTS: Players born in Q1 were significantly faster on speed, acceleration, agility, and MRSS tests and performed more push-ups (p<0.05) than those born in Q4. A significant RAE was found for birth date distribution (C2=703.826, p=0.000); however, there were no significant differences between players with CIS or CW rankings and those who were not ranked by relative age (C2=2.152, p=0.541, and C2=2.052, p=0.562; respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The RAE was apparent in birth date distribution in women's ice hockey over a five-year period, consistent with that found in male ice hockey, and as evidenced by significant differences in skating performance and one fitness measure. CIS and CW rankings did not differ by relative age, possibly due to similar levels of game performance among elite-level players.

The Development and Reliability of a Repeated Anaerobic Cycling Test in Female Ice Hockey Players

The purpose of this study was to develop and assess the reliability of a repeated anaerobic power cycling test designed to mimic the repeated sprinting nature of the sport of ice hockey. Nineteen female varsity ice hockey players (mean X +/- SD age, height and body mass = 21 +/- 2 yr, 166.6 +/- 6.3 cm and 62.3 +/- 7.3) completed 3 trials of a repeated anaerobic power test on a Monark cycle ergometer on different days. The test consisted of "all-out" cycling for 5 seconds separated by 10 seconds of low-intensity cycling, repeated 4 times. The relative load factor used for the resistance setting was equal to 0.095 kg per kilogram body mass. There was no significant difference between the peak 5-second power output (PO), mean PO, or the fatigue index (%) among the 3 different trials. The peak 5-second PO was 702.6 +/- 114.8 w and 11.3 +/- 1.1 w x kg, whereas the mean PO across the 4 repeats was 647.1 +/- 96.3 w and 10.4 +/- 1.0 w x kg averaged for the 3 different tests. The fatigue index averaged 17.8 +/- 6.5%. The intraclass correlation coefficient for peak 5-second, mean PO, and fatigue index was 0.82, 0.86, and 0.82, respectively. This study reports the methodology of a repeated anaerobic power cycling test that was reliable for the measurement of PO and calculated fatigue index in varsity women ice hockey players and can be used as a laboratory-based assessment of repeated anaerobic fitness.

Effects of ice hockey facial protectors on the response time and kinematics in goal-directed tasks

Ice hockey facial protectors are essential to prevent eye (and, in some cases, dental) injuries but must also not encumber vision and, in turn, playersapos; performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three different facial protection conditions on temporal and kinematic parameters in a goal-directed pointing task: helmet (control), visor, and cage. Start and end target switches captured temporal estimates (reaction time (RT), movement time, (MT), and response time (RT+MT)), while a 13-light target array and 6-camera Vicon Mx system were used to collect upper-body kinematics data (head and thorax orientation, shoulder and elbow joint angles). Subjects recruited were 16 male and 12 female varsity ice hockey players ( n=28). Results demonstrated that, although kinematics remained largely unaffected, throughout the target array RTMT increased significantly with the cage (23 ms) as well as delayed initiation of head rotation for both the visor (14 ms) and the cage (18 ms). These differences may well represent a functional disadvantage to a player's performance given the dynamic open environment where multiple players contest for puck possession. It must be stressed that facial protectors still provide an effective form of protection and thus should still be worn at all levels of play. In summary, further research is warranted to achieve both optimal performance and safety.

Changes In Fitness And Skating Performance In Elite Female Ice Hockey Players Over Nine Years

Changes In Fitness And Skating Performance In Elite Female Ice Hockey Players Over Nine Years

Multiple Off-ice Variables Predict On-ice Skating Performance In Male And Female Ice Hockey Players

Multiple Off-ice Variables Predict On-ice Skating Performance In Male And Female Ice Hockey Players

Pre-post Season Differences In Physical, Fitness, And Performance Characteristics In Elite Female Ice Hockey Players

PURPOSE: Only one study has examined the effects of multiple seasons of play in elite female ice hockey players, and on a limited number of variables. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine if physical characteristics, fitness, and on-ice skating performance vary significantly from pre- to post-season in elite female ice hockey players. METHODS: The subjects of this study were players from the University of Alberta (n=94, age=20.9±2.5 yrs) measured over nine seasons of play (1999-2007). A full anthropometric battery was taken on each player for four pre- and post-seasons (1999-2000, 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2007-08). Off-ice fitness tests included vertical jump (VJ), sit-ups (SU), push-ups (PU), Leger Test (to predict VO2max), and 40-yd dash (DASH). On-ice skating performance tests included a 44.80 m speed (SPEED), 6.10 m acceleration (ACCEL), Cornering S-Turn agility (AGIL), and Modified Repeat Sprint Skate (MRSS) tests. Blood lactates were taken immediately after the MRSS and after 4-6 minutes recovery. Anaerobic power estimates were derived (anaerobic capacity and power from MRSS and SPEED - Watson & Sargeant, 1986) and (peak anaerobic power from VJ - Sayers, 1998). Paired sample t-tests were run using SPSS (Mac Version 11.0) with a significance level set a priori at p<0.01. RESULTS: Significant pre-to-post season differences were found for thigh and waist circumferences and % body fat; DASH; anaerobic capacity; AGIL and MRSS, MRSS drop-off, recovery HR, and post-MRSS lactate clearance. CONCLUSIONS: Anthropometric differences were within measurement error, suggesting that physical characteristics do not change significantly over the course of a season of play. However, differences in fitness and performance measures indicate that players improve selected aspects of both over the course of a season. These changes are likely a result of training, skating skill enhancement, and/or ice time rather than a learning effect over a five-to-six month period.