TY - JOUR T1 - 450 Injury rates, types and mechanisms in sledge hockey: implications for grassroots through elite participation JF - British Journal of Sports Medicine JO - Br J Sports Med SP - A171 LP - A172 DO - 10.1136/bjsports-2021-IOC.412 VL - 55 IS - Suppl 1 AU - Alexandra J Sobry AU - Ash T Kolstad AU - Leticia Janzen AU - Amanda M Black AU - Carolyn A Emery Y1 - 2021/11/01 UR - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/55/Suppl_1/A171.3.abstract N2 - Background Injuries in parasport are not well explored and may lead to detrimental effects in players with pre-existing disabilities. Previous parasport injury studies have focused on elite sledge hockey during winter Paralympics. Reported injury rates in sledge hockey are higher than other winter parasports.Objective To examine concussion and injury rates, locations, types, mechanisms, and risk factors in sledge hockey.Design Cross-sectional survey.Setting Sledge hockey players across all levels of play.Participants Sledge hockey players (ages≥14 years) recruited worldwide following the 2019–2020 season through email, social media and word of mouth communication. Ninety-two players initiated the survey and 77 (83.7%) answered questions related to sledge hockey injuries.Assessment of Risk Factors Risk factors considered participant demographics (e.g., age, sex, disability, level of play).Main Outcome Measurements One-year injury rates (IR) and incidence rate ratios (IRR) were estimated based on univariate Poisson regression analyses. Injury proportions by type, location, and mechanism were described.Results There were 47 injuries reported including 16 concussions in 9/77 (11.7%) players and 31 non-concussion injuries in 20/77 (26.0%) players. The overall IR was 13.2 injuries/1000 athlete-exposures (95%CI;9.6–17.6). The game IR (28.4 injuries/1000 game-exposures, 95%CI;18.6–41.7) was significantly higher than for practices (4.4 injuries/1000 practice-exposures, 95%CI;2.2–7.9) (IRR=6.5, 95%CI;3.1–14.5). Significant injury: (1) locations were the head (34.0%), wrist/hand (14.8%) and shoulder (10.6%); (2) types were concussion (36.2%) and bone fracture (8.5%); and (3) mechanism was body checking (42.1% of injuries caused by contact with another player). Age, sex, disability type, and level of play were not found to be injury risk factors.Conclusions Concussions and upper extremity injuries were the most common sledge hockey injuries reported, with body checking being the most common mechanism. This research will inform the development of sledge hockey injury prevention strategies. ER -