RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Comparative incidence of concussion and return to play time in two Canadian minor hockey groups over the 2011–2012 season
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP e1
OP e1
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2012-092101
VO 47
IS 5
A1 D J Rhine
A1 T Lamvohee
YR 2013
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/47/5/e1.1.abstract
AB Objective Report concussion incidence and Return to Play (RTP) times over a minor hockey season (2011–12) in two sub-groups, a community hockey association (A) and a private hockey academy (B). Design Retrospective, cohort study. Setting Elite hockey players from A and B. Subjects 354 subjects in two sub-groups. A: 222 (191 Males/31 Females). B: 132 (114 Males/18 Females). Intervention Subjects were educated and baseline tested at the start of the 2011–12 season using Symptom Inventory, SCAT2, BESS and neuro-cognitive testing. The Zurich 2008 RTP protocol was utilised. Subjects were followed with serial testing until recovered to baseline or within 5% of baseline. Medical authorisation was given to RTP. Outcome Measures The incidence of concussion and the average RTP in the two groups. Results A. Concussion incidence – Overall 23%  ▸ A 18% (n=39)  ▸ B 32% (n=42) B. RTP (Average No. Days to RTP) Overall: 22  ▸ A: 27  ▸ B: 14 Conclusions Concussion incidence approximated that reported by Echlin. The higher incidence in the B group reflects the experience of coaches and full-time athletic therapists in recognising and dealing with concussions, and a willingness to report concussion injury. Overall RTP time was longer in both groups than the previously reported 12.8 days average. For B, the RTP time was less than A (14 vs 27 days), reflecting daily access to supportive care (athletic therapists and physician), daily access to the gym for Steps 2 and 3, and daily ice-time for Steps 4 and 5 of the RTP protocol.