Effect of Structured Ice Hockey Training on Scores on Field-Dependence/Independence

The aim of the present study is to test two hypotheses, (1) Witkin and Goodenough's 1982 assumption that participation in a structured physical activity increases field-independence and (2) that subjects characterized by high field-independence would show greater gains than subjects with high field-dependence on ice hockey skills. An adaptation of Oltman, Raskin, and Witkin's Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT) was given to measure field-dependency and standardized tests were used to evaluate the players' skill. An experimental group of 26 boys ( M = 11.27 yr.) were members of an ice hockey training program; 18 boys of a control group ( M = 11.93 yr.) participated in no programmed physical activity. A pretest (field-dependency and skill) was administered 21 weeks prior to the posttest; no significant differences were found for scores on embedded figures between groups; Witkin and Goodenough's hypothesis was not supported, but field-independent subjects tended to learn more.

Cognitive Styles of French Canadian Athletes

The purpose of this study was to assess field-dependence/independence of 192 French Canadian athletes involved in a university athletic program. Field-dependence refers to one who is strongly influenced by his immediate environment, while a field-independent is individually oriented and much less influenced by environment. Analysis of variance showed that for these athletes there were no significant differences for the embedded figures test scores on age, sex, level of competition, and sports. The highest mean score of 13.86 was obtained by athletes older than 18 yr. of age.

The Incidence and Types of Physical Contact Associated with Body Checking Regulation Experience in 13-14 Year Old Ice Hockey Players

BACKGROUND

Ice hockey has one of the highest sport participation and injury rates in youth in Canada. Body checking (BC) is the predominant mechanism of injury in leagues in which it is permitted. The objectives of this study were to determine whether the incidence and types of physical contact differ for Bantam players (aged 13-14 years) who were exposed to BC at Pee Wee level (aged 11-12 years) in Calgary, Alberta versus Bantam players who were not exposed to BC at Pee Wee level in Québec City, Québec. All teams were exposed to BC at bantam level;

METHODS

A cohort study was conducted in Québec City and Calgary. Sixteen games for Calgary and 15 for Québec City were randomly selected and analysed with a validated observation system to quantify five intensities of physical contact and to observe different types of physical contact such as slashing and holding;

RESULTS

A total of 5610 incidences of physical contact with the trunk and 3429 other types of physical contact were observed. Very light intensity trunk contact was more frequent in Calgary (adjusted incidence RR (ARR): 1.71; 95% CI: 1.28-2.29). Holding (ARR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02-1.07) and slashing (ARR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.07-1.77) were more frequent in Calgary;

CONCLUSION

RESULTS suggest that players' physical contacts differ between Bantam leagues in which BC was permitted at Pee Wee level and leagues in which it was not permitted until Bantam level.

Evaluation of a Theory-Based Intervention Aimed at Improving Coaches' Recommendations on Sports Nutrition to Their Athletes

BACKGROUND

Coaches are a major source of nutrition information and influence for young athletes. Yet, most coaches do not have training in nutrition to properly guide their athletes.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention aimed at improving the accuracy of coaches' recommendations on sports nutrition.

DESIGN

This was a quasi-experimental study with a comparison group and an intervention group. Measurements were made at baseline, post-intervention, and after a 2-month follow-up period. Coaches' recommendations on sports nutrition during the follow-up period were recorded in a diary.

PARTICIPANTS/SETTING

High school coaches from various sports (n=41) were randomly assigned to a comparison group or an intervention group.

INTERVENTION

Both groups attended two 90-minute sessions of a theory-based intervention targeting determinants of coaches' intention to provide recommendations on sports nutrition. The intervention group further received an algorithm that summarizes sports nutrition guidelines to help promote decision making on sports nutrition recommendations.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Nutrition knowledge and accuracy of coaches' recommendations on sports nutrition.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PERFORMED

χ(2) analyses and t-tests were used to compare baseline characteristics; mixed and general linear model analyses were used to assess the change in response to the intervention and differences in behaviors, respectively.

RESULTS

Coaches in the intervention vs comparison group provided more nutrition recommendations during the 2-month post-intervention period (mean number of recommendations per coach 25.7±22.0 vs 9.4±6.5, respectively; P=0.004) and recommendations had a greater accuracy (mean number of accurate recommendations per coach 22.4±19.9 [87.1%] vs 4.3±3.2 [46.1%], respectively; P<0.001). Knowledge was significantly increased post-intervention in both groups, but was maintained only in the intervention group during the 2-month follow-up (Pgroup*time=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

A theory-based intervention combined with a decision-making algorithm maintained coaches' sports nutrition knowledge level over time and helped them to provide more accurate recommendations on sports nutrition.

Feature-specific terrain park-injury rates and risk factors in snowboarders: a case-control study

Background

Snowboarding is a popular albeit risky sport and terrain park (TP) injuries are more severe than regular slope injuries. TPs contain man-made features that facilitate aerial manoeuvres. The objectives of this study were to determine overall and feature-specific injury rates and the potential risk factors for TP injuries.

Methods

Case–control study with exposure estimation, conducted in an Alberta TP during two ski seasons. Cases were snowboarders injured in the TP who presented to ski patrol and/or local emergency departments. Controls were uninjured snowboarders in the same TP. κ Statistics were used to measure the reliability of reported risk factor information. Injury rates were calculated and adjusted logistic regression was used to calculate the feature-specific odds of injury.

Results

Overall, 333 cases and 1261 controls were enrolled. Reliability of risk factor information was κ>0.60 for 21/24 variables. The overall injury rate was 0.75/1000 runs. Rates were highest for jumps and half-pipe (both 2.56/1000 runs) and lowest for rails (0.43/1000 runs) and quarter-pipes (0.24/1000 runs). Compared with rails, there were increased odds of injury for half-pipe (OR 9.63; 95% CI 4.80 to 19.32), jumps (OR 4.29; 95% CI 2.72 to 6.76), mushroom (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.20 to 4.41) and kickers (OR 1.99; 95% CI 1.27 to 3.12).

Conclusions

Higher feature-specific injury rates and increased odds of injury were associated with features that promote aerial manoeuvres or a large drop to the ground. Further research is required to determine ways to increase snowboarder safety in the TP.

Risk of injury associated with bodychecking experience among youth hockey players

BACKGROUND

In a previous prospective study, the risk of concussion and all injury was more than threefold higher among Pee Wee ice hockey players (ages 11-12 years) in a league that allows bodychecking than among those in a league that does not. We examined whether two years of bodychecking experience in Pee Wee influenced the risk of concussion and other injury among players in a Bantam league (ages 13-14) compared with Bantam players introduced to bodychecking for the first time at age 13.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study involving hockey players aged 13-14 years in the top 30% of divisions of play in their leagues. Sixty-eight teams from the province of Alberta (n = 995), whose players had two years of bodychecking experience in Pee Wee, and 62 teams from the province of Quebec (n = 976), whose players had no bodychecking experience in Pee Wee, participated. We estimated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for injury and for concussion.

RESULTS

There were 272 injuries (51 concussions) among the Bantam hockey players who had bodychecking experience in Pee Wee and 244 injuries (49 concussions) among those without such experience. The adjusted IRRs for game-related injuries and concussion overall between players with bodychecking experience in Pee Wee and those without it were as follows: injury overall 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63 to 1.16); concussion overall 0.84 (95% CI 0.48 to 1.48); and injury resulting in more than seven days of time loss (i.e., time between injury and return to play) 0.67 (95% CI 0.46 to 0.99). The unadjusted IRR for concussion resulting in more than 10 days of time loss was 0.60 (95% CI 0.26 to 1.41).

INTERPRETATION

The risk of injury resulting in more than seven days of time loss from play was reduced by 33% among Bantam hockey players in a league where bodychecking was allowed two years earlier in Pee Wee compared with Bantam players introduced to bodychecking for the first time at age 13. In light of the increased risk of concussion and other injury among Pee Wee players in a league where bodychecking is permitted, policy regarding the age at which hockey players are introduced to bodychecking requires further consideration.

Predictors of the use of performance-enhancing substances by young athletes

OBJECTIVES

To document the use of performance-enhancing substances (PES) by young athletes and to identify associated factors.

DESIGN

Retrospective survey.

SETTING

Self-reported anonymous questionnaire.

PARTICIPANTS

Three thousand five hundred seventy-three athletes (mean age, 15.5 years) from Quebec provincial teams run by organizations recognized by the Government of Quebec.

INTERVENTIONS

All subjects filled out a validated questionnaire on factors associated with the use of and the intention to use PES.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The use of and intention to use PES.

RESULTS

In the 12 months before filling out the questionnaire, 25.8% of respondents admitted having attempted to improve their athletic performance by using 1 or more of 15 substances that were entirely prohibited or restricted by the International Olympic Committee. Multiple regression analyses showed that behavioral intention (beta = 0.34) was the main predictor of athletes' use of PES. Attitude (beta = 0.09), subjective norm (beta = 0.13), perceived facilitating factors (beta = 0.40), perceived moral obligation (beta = -0.18), and pressure from the athlete's entourage to gain weight (beta = 0.10) were positively associated with athletes' behavioral intention to use PES.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that supports the predicting value of the theory of planned behavior. Results suggest that the athlete's psychosocial environment has a significant impact on the decision to use PES and support the need to integrate this factor into the development and implementation of prevention interventions.

Risk of injury associated with body checking among youth ice hockey players

CONTEXT

Ice hockey has one of the highest sport participation and injury rates in youth in Canada. Body checking is the predominant mechanism of injury in leagues in which it is permitted.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if risk of injury and concussion differ for Pee Wee (ages 11-12 years) ice hockey players in a league in which body checking is permitted (Alberta, Canada) vs a league in which body checking is not permitted (Quebec, Canada).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Prospective cohort study conducted in Alberta and Quebec during the 2007-2008 Pee Wee ice hockey season. Participants (N = 2154) were players from teams in the top 60% of divisions of play.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence rate ratios adjusted for cluster based on Poisson regression for game- and practice-related injury and concussion.

RESULTS

Seventy-four Pee Wee teams from Alberta (n = 1108 players) and 76 Pee Wee teams from Quebec (n = 1046 players) completed the study. In total, there were 241 injuries (78 concussions) reported in Alberta (85 077 exposure-hours) and 91 injuries (23 concussions) reported in Quebec (82 099 exposure-hours). For game-related injuries, the Alberta vs Quebec incidence rate ratio was 3.26 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.31-4.60 [n = 209 and n = 70 for Alberta and Quebec, respectively]) for all injuries, 3.88 (95% CI, 1.91-7.89 [n = 73 and n = 20]) for concussion, 3.30 (95% CI, 1.77-6.17 [n = 51 and n = 16]) for severe injury (time loss, >7 days), and 3.61 (95% CI, 1.16-11.23 [n=14 and n=4]) for severe concussion (time loss, >10 days). The estimated absolute risk reduction (injuries per 1000 player-hours) that would be achieved if body checking were not permitted in Alberta was 2.84 (95% CI, 2.18-3.49) for all game-related injuries, 0.72 (95% CI, 0.40-1.04) for severe injuries, 1.08 (95% CI, 0.70-1.46) for concussion, and 0.20 (95% CI, 0.04-0.37) for severe concussion. There was no difference between provinces for practice-related injuries.

CONCLUSION

Among 11- to 12-year-old ice hockey players, playing in a league in which body checking is permitted compared with playing in a league in which body checking is not permitted was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of all game-related injuries and the categories of concussion, severe injury, and severe concussion.

Helmet use and risk of neck injury in skiers and snowboarders

In a case-control study, the authors examined the relation between helmet use and neck injury among Québec, Canada, skiers and snowboarders using 10 years of ski patrol data (1995-1996 to 2004-2005). Cases were defined as persons with any neck injury (n = 2,986), an isolated neck injury requiring ambulance evacuation (n = 522), or a cervical spine fracture or dislocation (n = 318). The control group included persons with non-head, non-neck injuries (n = 97,408) in an unmatched analysis. The authors also matched cases with controls injured at the same ski area, during the same activity (skiing vs. snowboarding), and during the same season. Helmet use was the primary exposure variable. For the unmatched analysis, the authors used unconditional logistic regression and adjusted for clustering by ski area and other covariates. They used conditional logistic regression for the matched analysis. Multiple imputation was used to address missing values. The adjusted odds ratio was 1.09 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.95, 1.25) for any neck injury, 1.28 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.71) for isolated ambulance-evacuated neck injuries, and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.79, 1.31) for cervical spine fractures or dislocations. Similar results were found in the conditional logistic regression analysis and in analyses restricted to children under age 11 years. These results do not suggest that helmets increase the risk of neck injuries among skiers and snowboarders.

Discordance in injury reporting between youth-athletes, their parents and coaches

Hiring experienced health professionals to collect data on sport injuries is expensive, limits resources, and may be prohibitive for surveillance studies. The objective of this study was to obtain pilot data on whether youth self-report deserves further study. We followed 67 recreational and elite soccer players aged 11-17 for one season and compared responses of injured players with those of their parents/coaches. We defined our main outcome of discordance as any disagreement in responses between the youth, parent and coach (triad). When one person didn't know the answer, we categorised the responses as "concordance" if the other two members agreed. We omitted data when two people responded "Don't Know". Of 10 injuries that could be analysed, 29/30 interviews occurred within 21 days. For factual questions analysed, there was 100% concordance for the type and side of injury, and place where the injury occurred. There were 1-2 discordant triads for each of time of day, activity during injury and specific body part injured. There were greater discordances for date of injury, first-aid treatment, and opinions concerning underlying reasons for the injury. Interview-report by youth themselves should be explored as a possible low cost method of documenting youth sport injuries.