Eliminating Fighting and Head Hits from Hockey: Opportunities and Barriers

摘要

Fighting in ice hockey has persisted as a result of the expansion of professional leagues and rise in world-wide popularity of the game (1). Approximately 1.7 million people from 72 countries currently play ice hockey (2). The game has grown, but not in concert with our understanding of concussion science and factors that contribute to increased concussion risk. Concussion prevention is critical because of the serious short and long-term consequences of brain trauma and potential repercussions of repetitive subclinical forces (3-7). Mayo Clinic Ice Hockey Summit: Action on Concussion attendees in 2011, 2013, and 2017 prioritized elimination of fighting and all head hits as an essential concussion prevention strategy (4,8). Objectives of this article are to: understand how fighting is learned and why it continues, recognize the negative consequences of fighting and head trauma, and outline opportunities and barriers to end fighting and reduce all head hits in ice hockey.