A latest study found that the new body-checking rule enforced by the National Hockey League has not been effective in reducing the number of concussions incurred by players while playing the sport.
Ice hockey is known to have one of the highest concussion rates incurred by players while playing the sport. According to a 2011 report published in theCanadian Medical Association, during the regular hockey seasons from 2007 to 2004, researchers noted an average of 559 concussions, working out to a concussion rate of 5.8 for every 100 players.
After being criticized for the high number of concussions, the National Hockey League (NHL) introduced Rule 48 before the 2010 - 2011 season. According to this new rule, "a hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted. However, in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered."
Researcher found that approximately 64 per cent of the concussions were a result of body-checking, though only 28.4 per cent of such incidents were called "illegal" and the aggressor was given a penalty, fine or suspension.
However, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital found that this new rule has failed to lower the number of concussions.
"The risk of suffering a concussion is still very high for these players," Dr. Michael Cusimano, a neurosurgeon and concussion researcher, said in a press release. "Although the NHL opted to introduce rules regulating body checking to the head in an attempt to improve player safety, our results have found that players are still being injured at unnecessarily high rates."
For the study, researchers compared reports of hockey players suffering concussions in the NHL, before and after Rule 48 was implemented. The initial rule made it illegal for opponents to attack a player's blindside. The rule was then amended in the 2011-2012 season and made all intentional hits to the head illegal.
Dr. Cusimano suggested that additional changes need to be made to the rule in order to ensure a player's safety and reduce the number of concussion incidences.
The study is published online in the journal PLOS ONE.
