Abstract
The objective of this study was to describe the number, types and locations of known
injuries occurring across different age categories and levels of competition in female
ice hockey within the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association from 2004/05 to 2007/08.
We further examined under which aforementioned factors and combination of factors
an unusually high or low number of injuries was recorded. Secondary analysis of anonymized
injury data was conducted. The most common known injury type was strain/sprain, followed
by concussion while the most frequent injury location was head/face/mouth. Analysis
of deviance indicated that a significantly higher than expected number of sprain/strain,
concussion and laceration injuries were recorded compared to all other injury types.
In addition, there were a higher number of injuries recorded at the AA level compared
to all other levels of competition. Finally, the age categories of Peewee, Midget
and Intermediate within the AA level of competition, as well as Senior/Adult within
the Houseleague level of competition also recorded a significantly higher number of
injuries compared to other combinations of descriptive factors. Further research with
female youth is needed to better understand the high number of injuries, including
concussions, reported overall.
Key words
injury - female - ice hockey - sprain/strain - concussion