More injuries in women's hockey

[finance_gal]

My Husband just returned from Toronto last night where he was having some custom equipment made for our daughter (injury problems). The company that is making the custom equipment said his business has quadrupled in the past 2 years mostly from women's hockey and ill fitting equipment. Is there more injuries with the girls than with the boys? and why the sudden upturn in injuries?

[hockeya1a]

My Husband just returned from Toronto last night where he was having some custom equipment made for our daughter (injury problems). The company that is making the custom equipment said his business has quadrupled in the past 2 years mostly from women's hockey and ill fitting equipment. Is there more injuries with the girls than with the boys? and why the sudden upturn in injuries?

What did you have to have made and for what kind of injury.

My thinking is just that there are also more girls playing than ever befor and with the increase in numbers the intensity is higher than it has been in the past.
not to mention that the girls are not playing the game expecting to be hit like in the boys game.

[MNHockeyFan]

Assuming what the Toronto company is saying is widespread, that injuries in girls/womens hockey are rising generally, I would say the reason for this might be due to:

1. As the level of play rises and the speed of the game increases, you are going to see harder contact when players collide, get pushed into the boards, etc.

2. At the higher levels of play you are seeing more intentional physical contact as players try to gain an advantage over their opponent, knock them off the puck, slow them down, etc.

3. Because "checking" is not legal you see more instances where female players are not expecting to get hit and do not see it coming when they do get hit (intentionally or not). Perhaps they are not as adept at protecting themselves in certain situations as are boys, who starting with PeeWees quickly learn to be aware of who's around them at all times. I think many coaches could do a better job of teaching "situational awareness".

4. Given all of the above, female hockey players are becoming more exposed to injury, but what hasn't kept pace is their off ice training which builds muscle mass and would make them less susceptible to sustaining injuries. Because the bodies of females are not as naturally muscular as boys (after maturity) it would seem that they are more prone to injury. Off-ice training could make them less so.

These are just my observations, and I have no facts or figures to back this up!

[joehockey]

MNHock great points - I agree and don't see the girls getting hurt that are doing significant amount of strength/dryland training.

The stats I have seen on the US side say there is only a increase injuries in concussions - boys and men also have a spike in this area.

If you look at girls hockey today more players are playing, they are bigger, faster and stronger. In addition there is an increase in the amount of time on ice - for good or bad more girls are skating close to year round in the US and Canada. If you play CDN teams you see a significant increase in physical play which can lead to injuries as you adjust to the play.

All said hockey still is a safer sport for girls than soccer (concussions, knees, ankles) basketball (knees) and figure skating (breaks, concussions, cuts) in reported injuries in information compiled through USA Hockey.

[brookyone]

I believe the observations of MNHockeyFan are quite accurate as far as causes for an increase of injuries.

Just want to add, at present and in the past (to date), the men suffer significantly greater numbers of injury and subsequently lose more game time than do the women...at the collegiate level. The men generally have the longer benches to offset / deal with those injuries. I credit the no checking rule in the women's game as largely responsible for the difference. This is why I'm not in favor of any changes to the women's game which actually is quite physical as is...at the high school level too (I don't wish to spark further debate on that topic...believe me. I think it's been beat to death).

[Marty McSorely]

The problem is the equipment they wear today is too protective. Yes too protective....sit down and let me explain.

Today's stuff is so padded that the kids do not feel much. Therefore they play more physical because it doesn't hurt.

The sissy mom's need to sit down and stop trying to bubble wrap suszie and johnny.

[hockeyrube7]

The problem is the equipment they wear today is too protective. Yes too protective....sit down and let me explain.

Today's stuff is so padded that the kids do not feel much. Therefore they play more physical because it doesn't hurt.

The sissy mom's need to sit down and stop trying to bubble wrap suszie and johnny.

Sorry Marty, this is one of the oddest comments I've ever read. So you are saying they should wear less padding, so they can get hurt more and feel it, so they can get hurt less?

Honestly this is a pointless discussion anyway. So you heard from one person (that happens to sell fitted safety equipment) that this is happening, and nothing to prove it.

The only reasons, if any, that you are seeing more injuries in womens hockey, there are more girls/women playing, thus more are playing at higher levels, thus more injuries.

[Marty McSorely]

Point is in the old days if you took a five foot run at someone it hurt. Now with all the crap they where they take ten foot runs and break wrists and ankles because they never feel any pain till it's to f'n late.

[Northland]

Point is in the old days if you took a five foot run at someone it hurt. Now with all the crap they where they take ten foot runs and break wrists and ankles because they never feel any pain till it's to f'n late.

?

[Howaboutthat]

One way to really help combat injuries is to encourage kids to keep physically fit through exercise and weight training and maintain a healthy diet. This type of training does not have to be over the top but your basic cardio, stretching, plyometrics etc. Also, making sure kids are getting proper nutrition. You can't pick up a health or sports magazine that doesn't talk about "you are what you eat." Protein, iron , and calcium top the list! With the girl's game getting faster and more physical staying on top of your child's health is critical.

[MNHockeyFan]

Kind of a disturbing article in the Star Tribune about the rising number of concussions in girls hockey:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps ... LanchO7DiU

The article contains some good advice from Natalie Darwitz about how to protect yourself: "Players have to have the mentality that they need to be strong on their skates in order to stay safe." And in the opinion of several high school coaches, "The game has become faster and more physical. And players not accustomed to or prepared for contact are at risk for injury."

[conehead]

Like the boys game, through time they get faster, stronger, and more aggessive. The answer under the rules that are in place, is that the officials call the game the way it suppose to be called. When they let it get rough, injuries will happen. The girls go into the corners expecting no contact, when it happens they don't expect it and injuries occur. Equipment today is at it's peak, it's the coaching and officiating that needs to stay abreast of the game. Or allow more contact, and have the coaches prep their players for it!
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Canary Islands Recipes

[hockeya1a]

Like the boys game, through time they get faster, stronger, and more aggessive. The answer under the rules that are in place, is that the officials call the game the way it suppose to be called. When they let it get rough, injuries will happen. The girls go into the corners expecting no contact, when it happens they don't expect it and injuries occur. Equipment today is at it's peak, it's the coaching and officiating that needs to stay abreast of the game. Or allow more contact, and have the coaches prep their players for it!

An issue that adds to the realm of the problem is the inconsistency or the officiating, I have watched many games where everything is called and the game will calm down because it is a no nonsense crew and will not put up with it. Then you go to the next game in a different area different crew and you are allowed to hook, check, and trip etc. The rules are all written in one book but are so widely interpreted, so basically you have one team not expecting to be roughed up and the other accustom to doing the roughing and from one game to the next you do not know what to expect.

[joehockey]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps ... LanchO7DiU

This is a good article on Concussions. Two years ago Hill Murray started doing the ImPact Test before the season due to some bad concussion issues in football - if a player has an injury you have a baseline to see when they are good to go back on the ice. It is a quick test for players to take and it can be given off a lap top at the arena. Check with your school if they have adopted or looked at this - it could prevent some very long term issues.

[nmnhockeydad]

My daughter has been suffering from knee pain on and off for about a year. She is physically fit and does dryland and conditioning. An interesting point was brought up by the doctor. Females bodies are built differently which can inherently increase the risk of injuries or sport related joint pain. Never thought of it. She needs to do special exercises daily to help build up certain muscles and lessen the severity of the pain but probably won't ever eliminate the pain.

[hockeya1a]

My daughter has been suffering from knee pain on and off for about a year. She is physically fit and does dryland and conditioning. An interesting point was brought up by the doctor. Females bodies are built differently which can inherently increase the risk of injuries or sport related joint pain. Never thought of it. She needs to do special exercises daily to help build up certain muscles and lessen the severity of the pain but probably won't ever eliminate the pain.

Knee injuries are much more prevalent for girls in Soccer so if your Daughter plays both it could also be an issue, I also believe that the playing of these sports year round are a huge factor in repetitive injuries, it use to be kids played multiple sports and consequently used different muscles and joints not the same ones over and over again.

[jumpstart]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps ... LanchO7DiU

This is a good article on Concussions. Two years ago Hill Murray started doing the ImPact Test before the season due to some bad concussion issues in football - if a player has an injury you have a baseline to see when they are good to go back on the ice. It is a quick test for players to take and it can be given off a lap top at the arena. Check with your school if they have adopted or looked at this - it could prevent some very long term issues.

1) I hope with all my heart that Marissa will have a fully recovery and be able to get back to her studies and to playing hockey. She is a great kid!!
2) I hope that everyone will encourage their children to read the article and watch the video. While no one wants to see the physicality of the game go way, it might make an impression upon them on how a "dirty" hit may impact the life of someone else.
3) I, for one, am going to follow up with getting the ImPACT program in place for our high school girls' hockey team next season. If I can swing it, I would like to see it put in place for the entire school -- but that might be a monumental task. Wish me luck!

[jollyroger]

My daughter had two concussions by the age of 12, both playing hockey. One was while she played on a boys' team, one on a girls' team. One was at practice, the other was in a game.
It seems like everyone who discusses concussions as they relate to girls' hockey brings up the point that the sport is 'no-checking', and that this is some kind of mystery.
My feeling is that checking has very little to do with concussions even in the boys' 'checking' game. During a check along the boards, the checkees' head may hit the glass, but almost never hard enough to cause a concussion. Concussions more commonly occur after a wipeout sliding into the boards or in an accidental collision helmet to helmet, helmet to goalpost, or helmet to ice. Checking actually slows the game down a bit and might be responsible for preventing more concussions than it causes.

[joehockey]

I think an issue in some concussions in girls hockey is the "jaw whip" where a player is hit or head flys back and lower jaw bangs hard on upper jaw - the jar bruises the brain. This is preventable with proper mouthgaurd in place.

Hill Murray has actually had 2 or 3 other players with concussions this year who were given the test, failed and were held out - they were back in a couple of weeks. I understand they are using sideline testing in college football to tell in game if a player has sustained a concussion. I am glad this ImPACT tesing is available and highly recommend to others to ask your school to put in place.

[Homer]

One thing ocurred to me while readingthe concussion article in the tribune.

Hockey stance, when I was a kid we actually practiced a hockey stance. -feet shoulder width apart
- knees bent
- lower your center of gravity
Our oldest hockey player, started out figure skating at a young age, before hockey. I believe Miss Brandt did as well. In figure skating they teach you to stand upright, striaght up. Our girl suffered season ending injuries her Soph. & Junior years before hanging up the skates bfore her senior year. Same deal never had a Low c.g. and would get knocked around because of it.
Now think about when your girls were young did the coach ever line them up and teach them a hockey stance, give them a shove to see if they were well balanced? watching my 2 girls I cant recall such a drill. I am not saying thats a cure all but I think it would help to start w/ the basics at a young age, prepare them for some physical play.

[dochockey]

It's not stated here, but the imPACT test that is being hailed by the parents and coaches is controversial in the medical community. The people who have written the positive papers about it all have some sort of financial interest in the testing system, they stand to profit from good feedback and lacking that, they supply their own. When independent testing was done the impact test dignosed 38% healthy subjects as having a concussion while missing concussions in a similar amount of subjects. For my children, if I suspect a sign of a concussion I take them in and have proven dependable methods of diagnosis. Parents and coaches should be equally concerned about neck, shoulder and knee injuries because they are more common than concussions and are often left untreated resulting in permanent damage.

[Bensonmum]

It's not stated here, but the imPACT test that is being hailed by the parents and coaches is controversial in the medical community. The people who have written the positive papers about it all have some sort of financial interest in the testing system, they stand to profit from good feedback and lacking that, they supply their own. When independent testing was done the impact test dignosed 38% healthy subjects as having a concussion while missing concussions in a similar amount of subjects. For my children, if I suspect a sign of a concussion I take them in and have proven dependable methods of diagnosis. Parents and coaches should be equally concerned about neck, shoulder and knee injuries because they are more common than concussions and are often left untreated resulting in permanent damage.

Interesting....
However, I disagree with the remark "Parents and coaches should be equally concerned about neck, shoulder and knee injuries...."
No--there is nothing comparable to having an injury of the brain. If your kid gets one, you'd understand.

[joehockey]

For those wanting to learn more about what the ImPACT Process and finds studies on concussions here is a website:

http://www.impacttest.com/concussionresource.php

[conehead]

Bad site, you guys are terrible, close this site soon. Sounds like a bunch of picnic dads with nothing to do.
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Marijuana vaporizer

[nmnhockeydad]

So the great Conehead, or should I say Bonehead, strikes again! I remember on numeous occasion you stating that you were leaving this forum. Rather than closing, consider actually doing something that would help this forum...LEAVING!!!