Rise in minor league hockey brain injury 'due to bodychecking'RSS Feed

Brain injury has seen a sharp rise in minor ice hockey players in Canada since the bodychecking rules were relaxed for nine and ten year olds, a study has shown.

Minor league hockey players were found to be more than ten times as likely to suffer a brain injury since the rules were relaxed in the 1998/1999 season within the Atom league, according to the research published online in journal Open Medicine.

Dr Michael Cusimano, who led the research, said the study confirmed bodychecking is the most common cause of injury in hockey.

"While proponents argue lowering the age for bodychecking helps players learn how to properly bodycheck and reduces injuries at older ages, our study clearly showed the opposite ? the risk of all injuries and especially, brain injuries, increases with exposure to bodychecking," he explained.

Bodychecking involves using the body to knock an opponent over onto the ice or against the boards and can only be used on the player in possession of the puck.

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Posted by Paul Breen
 

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