Concussions are common in most contact sports as they are in the NHL. They have become more common in the media over the past few years when star players have been on the receiving end. A recent study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal looks at concussions among National Hockey League players during regular season games. It gives a background of the injury and describes it. A concussion is defined as a complex pathophysiologic process affecting the brain, induced by traumatic biomechanical force. Concussion results in a graded set of clinical syndromes that may or may not involve loss of consciousness or memory dysfunction. Concussion typically results in a functional disturbance with the rapid onset of short- lived impairment of neurologic function that resolves spontaneously. (pp.905)
It has been estimated that the incidence could be as high as 20% of players per hockey team annually sustain concussions (Tator, 2009). A staggering statistic like this show there is a serious problem that needs to be looked at.
The Effects
In the NHL many players have received several concussions. After a player gets his first concussion he is more susceptible to getting a second or third (Tator, 2009). In the case of players such as Pat Lafontaine, Paul Kariya and Eric Lindros this was so. Not only did they receive several concussions but the extent and severity of their concussions led to the
References: Benson, B. W., Meeuwisse, W. H., Rizos, J., Kang, K., & Burke, C. (2011). A prospective study of Concussions among National Hockey League players during regular season games: the Custance, C. (2011). When playing hurts, The Sporting News. Vol. 235(4), p44 Farber, M Mail. Retrieved March 22, 2012 from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/concussions/nhler-bob-probert-suffered-from-degenerative-brain-disease-scientists-find/article1927734/ Tator, C