Are Full-Face Shields Making Ice Hockey a More Dangerous Sport?
Are Full-Face Shields Making Ice Hockey a More Dangerous Sport?
Dec. 21, 1999 (Atlanta) -- In the fast, aggressive sport of ice hockey, the number of high-impact collisions has led many colleges to make full-face masks mandatory. However, the nearly simultaneous increase in concussions and neck injuries has sparked a debate. Are the masks creating a 'gladiator mentality' that puts athletes at risk?
In a study published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association, a group of sports medicine specialists tracked several hundred players' injuries over one season and found that full-face shields have not increased the risk of neck injuries. In fact, they had the added benefit of significantly reducing the risk of facial and dental injuries.
There was no evidence of 'gladiator mentality,' study author Willem H. Meeuwisse, MD, PhD, of the University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre, tells WebMD in an interview. "We looked at whether overall injury rates were different and they were not. We saw the same amount of aggressive behavior and other injuries [whether they were wearing full or partial shields]."
The study involved 642 male ice hockey players in 22 different teams, all of whom were about 22 years old and playing in the 1997-1998 Canadian Inter-University Athletics Union hockey season. About half the athletes wore full-face shields during the play season, while the other half wore half-face shields.
Of the 319 athletes who wore full-face shields, 195 had at least one injury during the season, while of the 323 who wore half-face shields, 204 were injured.
"Although we found a significant difference in rates of head and facial injuries between the two groups, there was no significant difference in risk of sustaining a concussion, neck, or other injury (overall) for athletes wearing half shields compared with those wearing full-face shields," says Meeuwisse. "Basically, we showed that full-face shields are a good idea and don't have any measurable downside."
The study also found that, for those wearing the half-shield, the risk of facial laceration was nearly 2.5 times greater than with full shields. The risk of dental injury was 10 times higher with half-shields. Time lost from participation because of concussion was significantly greater in those who wore half-shield protection.
Are Full-Face Shields Making Ice Hockey a More Dangerous Sport?
In a study published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association, a group of sports medicine specialists tracked several hundred players' injuries over one season and found that full-face shields have not increased the risk of neck injuries. In fact, they had the added benefit of significantly reducing the risk of facial and dental injuries.
There was no evidence of 'gladiator mentality,' study author Willem H. Meeuwisse, MD, PhD, of the University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre, tells WebMD in an interview. "We looked at whether overall injury rates were different and they were not. We saw the same amount of aggressive behavior and other injuries [whether they were wearing full or partial shields]."
The study involved 642 male ice hockey players in 22 different teams, all of whom were about 22 years old and playing in the 1997-1998 Canadian Inter-University Athletics Union hockey season. About half the athletes wore full-face shields during the play season, while the other half wore half-face shields.
Of the 319 athletes who wore full-face shields, 195 had at least one injury during the season, while of the 323 who wore half-face shields, 204 were injured.
"Although we found a significant difference in rates of head and facial injuries between the two groups, there was no significant difference in risk of sustaining a concussion, neck, or other injury (overall) for athletes wearing half shields compared with those wearing full-face shields," says Meeuwisse. "Basically, we showed that full-face shields are a good idea and don't have any measurable downside."
The study also found that, for those wearing the half-shield, the risk of facial laceration was nearly 2.5 times greater than with full shields. The risk of dental injury was 10 times higher with half-shields. Time lost from participation because of concussion was significantly greater in those who wore half-shield protection.
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