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Head Impact Biomechanics Differ Between Girls and Boys Youth Ice Hockey Players

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Abstract

The influence of sex on head impact biomechanics is unknown for youth ice hockey. We sought to determine sex differences in head impact severity and frequency in youth ice hockey players. Male (n = 110) and female (n = 25) players (13–16 years old) were recruited from a local hockey organization. Players wore helmets instrumented with the Head Impact Telemetry System for all competitions and practices throughout the season. Seven team-seasons were captured. Random intercepts general mixed linear models determined whether linear acceleration and rotational acceleration differed by sex. Linear regression models evaluated the relationship between sex and impact frequency. All head impact biomechanics were natural log-transformed as their distributions were right-skewed. Females sustained fewer impacts per player than males (27 fewer impacts per player-season, p < 0.0001) even when analysis was limited to games only (21 fewer impacts per player-season, p < 0.0001). The linear acceleration was higher among females (1.07 g; 95% CI 1.00, 1.13; p = 0.04). There were no other meaningful sex differences in head impact severity. Female players are not permitted to body check, and this likely explains why they sustain fewer head impacts than males. However, as a result, females likely sustain a higher proportion of head impacts through illegal or unintentional head contact, and these impacts may result in more force being delivered to the head.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the hockey organizations, parents, and players participating in our research endeavors, namely the Raleigh Youth Hockey Association and Carolina Lightning Hockey. We would also like to acknowledge Robert Lynall, Alice (Pierce) Feldbusch, and Julianne Schmidt, and our undergraduate research assistants for assistance with data collection. The data presented in this study were collected during projects funded in whole or in part by the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF), the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE), and the USA Hockey Foundation (USAHF). The results and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not constitute endorsement by the ONF, NOCSAE, or USAHF. The authors have no other conflicts of interest to report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2207 Stallings-Evans Sports Medicine Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Jason P. Mihalik, Erin B. Wasserman, Elizabeth F. Teel & Stephen W. Marshall

  2. Curriculum in Human Movement Science, Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Jason P. Mihalik & Elizabeth F. Teel

  3. Injury Prevention Research Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Jason P. Mihalik & Stephen W. Marshall

  4. Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Erin B. Wasserman

  5. School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Elizabeth F. Teel

  6. Department of Epidemiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Stephen W. Marshall

  7. 2201 Stallings-Evans Sports Medicine Center, Campus Box 8700, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-8700, USA

    Jason P. Mihalik

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  1. Jason P. Mihalik
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  2. Erin B. Wasserman
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Correspondence to Jason P. Mihalik.

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Associate Editor Joel D Stitzel oversaw the review of this article.

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Mihalik, J.P., Wasserman, E.B., Teel, E.F. et al. Head Impact Biomechanics Differ Between Girls and Boys Youth Ice Hockey Players. Ann Biomed Eng 48, 104–111 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-019-02343-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-019-02343-9

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