Game Spacing and Density in Relation to the Risk of Injuries in the National Hockey League.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ice hockey has significant workload demands. Research of other sports has suggested that decreased rest between games as well as an increased workload may increase the risk of injuries.

Purpose

To evaluate whether condensed game schedules increase the frequency and severity of injuries in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Study design

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods

Data were obtained from publicly available online sources on game schedules and injuries for all NHL teams for the 2005-2006 through 2018-2019 seasons. Injury rates (per team per game) and the proportion of severe and nonsevere injuries were determined. The game-spacing analysis assessed the risk of injuries in relation to the number of days between games played (range, 0-≥6 days)

SUBMITTER: Blond BN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8058808 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature