RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 744 The incidence of physical contacts in youth ice hockey associated with body checking experience
JF Injury Prevention
JO Inj Prev
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP A267
OP A267
DO 10.1136/injuryprev-2016-042156.744
VO 22
IS Suppl 2
A1 Leticia Janzen
A1 German Martinez
A1 Maciek Krolikowski
A1 Nicole Romanow
A1 Luz Palacios-Derflingher
A1 Luc Nadeau
A1 Carolyn Emery
YR 2016
UL http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/22/Suppl_2/A267.1.abstract
AB Background Hockey Canada’s 2013 body checking (BC) policy change was informed by evidence that BC leads to a >3-fold increased risk of injury compared with non-BC leagues. Video analyses found a reduction in high intensity physical contacts (PC) following this policy change. The association between BC experience and incidence of PCs has not been examined. As such, the incidence of intensity and types of PC were examined following the policy change in Pee Wee (PW) leagues (ages 11–12) with (Calgary) and without (Québec) BC experience.Methods PW games were videotaped in Calgary (N = 21, with BC experience) and Québec City (N = 20, without BC experience), both non-BC leagues. Games were analysed using Dartfish with a validated observation system to quantify incidence of PC. Five levels of intensity (trunk contacts coded Level 1–5 intensity) and other types of PC (limb/head/stick). PC incidence rates per team-game and incidence rate ratios (IRR) (95% CI) were estimated to compare games between two cohorts.Results In total 4433 trunk contacts in Calgary and 2667 in Québec were recorded. Of the trunk contacts, 97.5% (Calgary) and 95.7% (Québec) were classified as low level PC. The incidence of total trunk contacts (number of contacts per team-game) was higher in Calgary than Québec (IRR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.40–1.79). There was no difference in high intensity contacts (Level 4 [IRR = 0.72 95% CI: 0.48–1.07], Level 5 [IRR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.57–2.56]). The incidence of other PCs was lower in Calgary than Québec (IRR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53–0.96).Conclusion Following a policy change disallowing BC, PW players with experience BC had a greater incidence of total trunk contacts but not greater high intensity contacts than players without BC experience. Players with no experience had a higher incidence of other PCs. These results inform a greater understanding of mechanisms of contact in youth ice hockey that will in turn inform injury prevention and player development.