The adverse effects of sport-related concussions range from immediate physical symptoms like dizziness and fatigue to long-term cognitive deficits, including memory disturbances and mental illness. According to resident physician and researcher Dr. Michael Gaudiani, concussions are particularly common in the National Hockey League.
The researcher is highly regarded in the medical community, where he is prolific in his work. His research features in numerous peer-reviewed articles covering, among other topics, innovative and pioneering patient care protocols. He also boasts a successful athletic background, where his dedication and discipline translate seamlessly into his professional practice.
Recent figures show that the National Hockey League has a concussion incidence as high as 6.1 per 100 games. The NHL most recently established an updated concussion protocol in the 2016-2017 season. However, in the years since, few studies have taken place on the effects of implementing this protocol.
The following is a closer look at one such study published by the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine in April 2024, courtesy of Dr. Gaudiani.
Understanding Concussions in Hockey Players
The nature of ice hockey means many players experience severe injuries during their careers. Concussions—a form of mild traumatic brain injury—are prevalent, frequently causing missed game time. These mild traumatic brain injuries have severe but short-term effects on immediate performance.
However, they can also cause long-lasting changes in cognitive function. In addition to memory disturbances and mental illnesses, these long-lasting changes in cognitive function often extend to broader neurobehavioral changes and the potential later onset of various neurodegenerative diseases.
Concussions also pose significant financial costs to professional ice hockey players and their teams. Such injuries are reported to cause annual salary losses of up to $40 million in the United States.
Updated Concussion Protocols in Ice Hockey
The National Hockey League began collecting data on concussion incidences in 1997. Owing to an increased understanding of the seriousness of sport-related concussions, the NHL now oversees several programs focused on monitoring and improving concussion outcomes among players.
The NHL introduced its first-ever concussion protocol in the 2011-2012 season. This standardized set of rules guided and continues to guide the management of concussions. Since the 2016-2017 season, it has called for mandatory team concussion education.
The same 2016-2017 season protocol updates have been the focus of a major study recently concluded by the National Institutes of Health. The study represents a retrospective review of concussion injuries among NHL players sustained over more than two decades, since the 2000-2001 season.
Concussion Protocol Study Results
Dr. Michael Gaudiani reports that 452 players sustained concussions during the study period. That includes 331 players placed in a pre-concussion protocol group and 121 in a post-concussion protocol group.
According to the peer-reviewed resident physician and researcher, concussion incidences did not change after implementing the most recently updated National Hockey League protocols. Yet, players encountered significantly reduced missed game time from injuries sustained post-protocol implementation.
Meanwhile, changes in player performance pre- and post-concussion injury remained unchanged before and after the NHL’s protocol implementation, including its most recent update. Moreover, the study found no difference in the financial cost of concussions between the pre-protocol and post-protocol groups when adjusted for inflation.
As a result, Dr. Gaudiani reports that his team has recommended continued re-evaluation and improvement of concussion protocols. That’s to determine optimal concussion management strategies and protocols in and across future seasons. For more, follow the Detroit, Michigan-based physician and researcher on LinkedIn.
