Concussion Rate in Young Hockey Players Higher Than Thought
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 3 (HealthDay News) — The rate of concussions
among teen and young adult hockey players is more than three times higher
than previously believed, and the issue needs to be taken more seriously
by players, parents, coaches and doctors, researchers warn.
The study of 67 male ice-hockey players, aged 16 to 21, on two
fourth-tier teams was conducted during the 2009-2010 hockey season. During
52 games, 17 players suffered a total of 21 concussions.
The Canadian researchers calculated that the incidence of concussions
was 21.5 per 1,000 athlete exposures, which is 3.3 times higher than
reported in previous studies.
Among the other findings:
- Five of the 17 players (29 percent) with a diagnosed concussion
suffered a second or recurrent concussion during the study period. - Fifteen of those 17 players (88 percent) said they had suffered at
least one previous concussion. - Two of the players who suffered a concussion during the study period
admitted that they had concealed a concussion sustained during that season
in order to keep playing. - Of the 21 diagnosed concussions in the study, 71 percent were suffered
by forwards and 29 percent by defensemen. There were no concussions among
goalies. - Fifty-seven percent of the concussions occurred in the third period,
29 percent in the second period, and 14 percent in the first period. - Twenty-four percent of the concussions occurred in players who were
personally involved in a fight right before their diagnosis. - On average, it took 12.8 days for 15 of the players diagnosed with
concussion to return to play. - Players assigned to a concussion education group showed improved
knowledge about the issue.
The findings are published in the November issue of Neurosurgical
Focus.
“The aftermath of a concussion can impact memory, judgment, social
conduct, reflexes, speech, balance and coordination,” study author Dr.
Paul Sean Echlin, of the AIM Health Group, Family Medicine in South
London, Ontario, said in an American Association of Neurological Surgeons
news release.
“Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between sport
concussions and both immediate and later-life cognitive impairment. As
such, this is a public health issue that needs to be taken more seriously
by players, parents, coaches and medical professionals,” he added.
However, this study found “a disturbing lack of compliance by the
athletes to undergo requested neuropsychological evaluations and multiple
physician visits, as well as a lack of understanding about the seriousness
of concussion,” study co-author Dr. Charles H. Tator, of Western Hospital,
University of Toronto, said in the news release.
“Complaints from players, coaches and parents about this testing gave
further credence to the importance of raising awareness about the serious
long-term implications of concussions through education, which does appear
to be beneficial according to our findings,” he noted.
“The reluctance to report concussion symptoms may result from cultural
factors, as expressed in several of the case studies — athletes
demonstrate perceived toughness to their parents, coaches, teammates and
peers by playing through an injury; and the belief of the athlete that he
or she is invincible, so winning overrides any consideration of the effect
of the injury upon long-term health,” Echlin said.
“It is imperative to bring about a cultural and philosophical change in
this regard through stepped-up education efforts and enforcement of
concussion protocols. At risk is something far more precious than winning
a game, and that is the future health and well being of thousands of young
athletes,” he concluded.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about sports concussions.