Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Female ice hockey players (players) are known to have a higher incidence of concussions than their male counterparts, despite the rules prohibiting intentional body contact in female ice hockey. The factors influencing concussion risk in female players remain unclear. With the drastic increase in female ice hockey participation over the last decade, the concerning upwards trend of concussions in female hockey warrants investigation and potential intervention. The purpose of the proposed research is to examine the effect of isometric cervical strength, head impact mechanism, and head impact location on concussion risk in female players using simulated head impacts. Concussion risk will be operationalized by peak linear acceleration, angular acceleration, and Severity Index (SI). Five different cervical strengths will be used, along with three different mechanisms of head impact (direct impact, whiplash with impact, and whiplash without impact), and three different head impact locations (front, rear, and side). Maximal isometric cervical strength of a sample of female players will be measured in flexion, extension, and side flexion using a strain gauge load cell. The cervical strength values will be converted to torque values and simulated on a mechanical neckform, coupled to a NOCSAE headform. Head impacts will be simulated using a dual-rail drop system and impact forces measured using an AMTI force platform. Results gathered from this research have the potential to fill the gap in the literature regarding risk factors predisposing female players to concussions. This could provide preliminary ground upon which intervention strategies could be developed.