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Winter breaks: How do they affect injuries in field hockey?
Huw Rees1, Ulrik McCarthy Persson1, Eamonn Delahunt1
1School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland; Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
|September 17, 2022
Summary
The Irish Hockey League's winter break led to more injuries post-break. Athletes faced a higher risk of injury, particularly lower back injuries and fractures, after the break.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Injury Epidemiology
- Athletic Performance
Background:
- The Irish Hockey League (IHL) implemented an eight-week winter break in the 2018/2019 season.
- This study investigates the impact of this break on athlete injury patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of an eight-week winter break on injury outcomes in the IHL.
- To compare injury incidence, severity, and burden between seasons with and without a winter break.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study design was employed.
- Injury data from the 2018/2019 (winter break) and 2017/2018 (no winter break) seasons were analyzed.
- Seasons were divided into three periods, with the break occurring in period two of the 2018/2019 season. Relative risk and injury incidence were compared.
Main Results:
- Fewer overall injuries occurred in the 2018/2019 season (150) compared to 2017/2018 (173).
- However, injury incidence rate, severity, and burden were significantly higher in period three (post-break) of the 2018/2019 season.
- Athletes had a 2.5-times higher relative risk of injury post-break, with significantly elevated risks for lower back injuries (RR 15.3) and fractures (RR 21.4).
Conclusions:
- Despite fewer total injuries, the winter break in the IHL was associated with a significant increase in injuries sustained in the period following the break.
- These findings suggest that the winter break may disrupt player conditioning, leading to a higher susceptibility to injury upon return to play.
