Protective equipment in hockey
Protective equipment plays an important role in keeping hockey players safe from injuries, including concussions. Recent research out of the University of Calgary has shown that wearing mouthguards (both off-the-shelf and custom-made) can reduce the risk of concussion in youth hockey players. Policies that reflect research findings are important to ensure that athletes are wearing the appropriate…
Sleep issues among concussed youth athletes
Concussions among athletes represent a significant concern in the world of sport and medicine. Sleep disturbances are common among those who have experienced concussions, particularly among pediatric patients, and are linked to more severe symptoms within 2 weeks of the injury. With melatonin being a common sleep aid, a recent study looked into prescriptions of…
CAPT Cares Partner Program launched to advance concussion safety and management
Ottawa, May 9 – Today marks a significant step forward in concussion safety and management as Agile Intelligent Solutions (AgileIS) proudly introduces the CAPT Cares Partner Program. This innovative initiative underscores a commitment to enhancing concussion education, research, and player safety across various sectors. CAPT (Concussion Awareness, Protocols, and Training), the digital concussion management platform…
Neck strengthening for concussion mitigation
In recent years, the sporting community has gotten better at spotting and treating sports-related concussions, however there remain many questions surrounding preventive measures. Exploring whether neck size or strength correlates with reduced concussion risk has found that formal neck strengthening programs show promise in reducing risk, particularly among amateur athletes.
Follow-up visits after a concussion: time to take preventive measures
Wayne Gretzky, Canadian ice hockey legend, is famous for the quote “Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.” Behind this saying is the thought of instead of chasing what’s already happened, try to get a step ahead. When it comes to concussions in sport, we are often reacting: reacting to…
Art therapy in youth concussion recovery
Up and coming research from a PhD student at the university of Alberta combines art therapy with concussion recovery science. The research explores communication challenges faced by youth post-concussion and showcases the power of art as a tool for self-expression, calling for a reimagining of rehabilitation in concussion management.
Beyond the ice: Former pro hockey player’s concussion struggles drive PhD mission for improved pediatric care for children and youth
In the halls of BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, Scott Ramsay witnessed a disconcerting pattern: children with concussions were being referred to the hospital too late, their symptoms already complex and challenging to manage. For Ramsay, a former professional hockey player turned nurse, this scene triggered a flashback to his own teenage years, marked by…
The heart and brain axis
Repeated concussions may disrupt the heart-brain axis, causing irregularities in heart activity and long-term health implications. This new insight emphasizes the importance of measures to reduce the occurrence of concussions in sports. Implementing and strictly enforcing safety protocols can contribute to minimizing the risk of head injuries and subsequent cardiac implications.
Sleep, Socioemotional Functioning, and Symptom Experience: An Experimental Sleep Restriction Study
Introduction and Context Concussions are very common in sport (Daugherty et al., 2020). As such, accurate assessment of concussion is imperative for safe participation in sport at all levels. A major domain of assessment is self-report symptoms (Patricios et al., 2023). It is well-known that concussion-like symptoms (CLS) are common both after concussion and in…
Body Checking in Youth Hockey
Body checking is a large part of hockey, but there is a risk of concussion. The Amsterdam 2022 International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport suggests that body checking should be eliminated in hockey for children and most adolescents. In addition, they found that mouth guards are proven to be effective in reducing concussions and…