Orthopedic Injuries in Youth Ice Hockey Athletes During Peak Height Velocity: A Review

Youth ice hockey is a popular sport worldwide. Because of its high physical demand and full contact nature of the game, injuries are common. Adolescent athletes, specifically those nearing the peak height velocity (PHV), represent a vulnerable subset of patients with particular susceptibility to musculoskeletal injuries. Despite the concerns for athlete health, the overall incidence of injuries continues to rise.

To review current literature on common orthopedic injuries in youth ice hockey athletes with particular emphasis on mechanisms and pathology related to those during PHV.

Current literature was surveyed focusing on epidemiology, injury mechanisms, and pathology of orthopedic injuries observed commonly in youth ice hockey athletes. Special attention was given to injuries related to skeletal immaturity, physeal injuries, apophysitis/overuse injuries, and size mismatch among similarly aged cohorts.

Extremity injuries remain common with upper extremity involvement occurring more often than lower extremity injuries. During PHV, changes in limb length result in muscle imbalance and altered neuromuscular control. In addition, the open physis remains weakened. These developmental changes, combined with high collision forces, size mismatch in similarly aged cohorts, and increased skating volume, amplify injury risk.

Adolescents during PHV represent a vulnerable subset of patients with increased risk of orthopedic injuries. Understanding growth-related risk factors-physeal susceptibility, size mismatch, and sport demand-is essential to developing injury prevention strategies and directing future research on athlete safety during development.