Does bodychecking experience really reduce concussions?

In an effort to reduce the high burden of injury in Canadian youth ice hockey, most associations have restricted bodychecking nationally among leagues for younger players (age 11–12 yr), as well as in certain nonelite divisions of play in older age categories (age 13–17 yr.) This has been shown to be associated with reduced rates of injury, including concussion. 

However, despite the evidence, some argue that gaining earlier bodychecking experience may protect young players from injuries, including concussions, later on when they progress to play in leagues where bodychecking is allowed.

A study published in the CMAJ entitled Bodychecking experience and rates of injury among ice hockey players aged 15–17 years found the opposite, however. Players with more experience in bodychecking had a greater incidence of concussion.

On today’s episode, Drs. Omole and Bigham speak with two authors of the study. Paul Eliason is a postdoctoral fellow in the Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre at the University of Calgary and Carolyn Emery is a physiotherapist and epidemiologist at the University of Calgary.

They discuss the new study’s findings and their implications for policy in youth hockey. They also explore how hockey compares to other contact and non-contact sports and discuss how to keep kids both active and safe in sport.

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