Performance After Concussion in National Hockey League Players

Neustadtl, Aidan; Bukowski, William; Neustadtl, Alan; Milzman, David

doi:10.4085/1062-6050-126.20

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Excellent short-term recovery from concussion in NHL players is reflected in other reports on NHL performance. Neustadtl et al 20 assessed NHL player performance during the 5 games before and the 5 games after a concussion injury and found no significant change in performance measures. Similarly, Kuhn et al 12 assessed NHL player performance at 5 games before and after concussion and found no significant differences in standard performance metrics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Player Performance and Financial Costs Associated With Implementation of an Updated National Hockey League Concussion Protocol: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Gaudiani,

Castle,

Wolterink

et al. 2024

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine

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Background: An updated National Hockey League (NHL) concussion protocol (NHLCP) was established in the 2016-2017 season to mitigate the negative outcomes of sport-related concussions. However, few studies on the effects of implementing the NHLCP have been performed. Purpose: To define concussion incidence and investigate differences in NHL player performance after a concussion during periods before and after NHLCP implementation and assess the financial impact on NHL teams associated with NHLCP implementation. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3 Methods: This was a retrospective review of NHL players who sustained a concussion before (2000-2001 to 2015-2016 seasons) and after (2016-2017 to 2020-2021 seasons) implementing the NHLCP (pre-NHLCP and post-NHLCP groups). For each group, multiple performance metrics—including 30 days, 1 season, and 3 seasons before and after concussion—were compared for both groups. Return to play, total concussion cost, and association of return to play with cost were investigated using regression analysis. Results: A total of 452 players (423 skaters, 29 goalies) sustained concussions during the study period, including 331 players (315 skaters, 16 goalies) in the pre-NHLCP group and 121 players (108 skaters, 13 goalies) in the post-NHLCP group. For both groups, no significant differences in standard performance were observed during the 30-day and 1-season periods before and after concussion. The mean return to play was significantly higher in the pre-NHLCP group than in the post-NHLCP group (20.1 vs 15.7 days; P = .022). The mean adjusted player salary was not different between groups; nonetheless, the mean adjusted replacement player salary was significantly higher in the post-NHLCP group ($744,505 vs $896,942; P = .032). The mean cost of time missed did not differ between groups. The mean return to play time significantly decreased over the entire study period ( R2 = 0.33; P = .005), and the mean return to play time was positively associated with cost R2 = 0.215; P = .030). Conclusion: Concussion incidence did not change after implementation of the updated NHLCP; nonetheless, players had significantly less missed time from injury after protocol implementation. Changes in player performance 30 days and 1 year before and after concussion injury were not different before and after NHLCP implementation. No differences were found in the financial cost of concussions between the pre- and post-NHLCP groups, and missed time was significantly correlated with mean cost from missed time.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Player Performance and Financial Costs Associated With Implementation of an Updated National Hockey League Concussion Protocol: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Gaudiani,

Castle,

Wolterink

et al. 2024

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine

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“…Our RTP rate is similar to that reported in NFL and National Hockey League. 13 , 23 , 28 NBA players returned, on average, 37.3 days after injury, but this varied widely (range, 2-291 days), probably skewed by those with season-ending injuries. The median days before RTP was 7 with an IQR of 16.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance After Concussion in National Basketball Association Players

DeFroda

Patel

Milner

et al. 2022

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine

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Background: Concussions have received national attention in collision sports such as football, soccer, and hockey, but less focus has been placed on basketball. Purpose: To determine return-to-play (RTP) and player performance in the first and second season after concussion in National Basketball Association (NBA) players. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: An online database of publicly available NBA athlete injuries was queried for instances of “concussion” between 2010 and 2018. The age at injury, team, position, height, weight, body mass index, NBA experience, date of concussion, date of return, and seasons played postconcussion was recorded for each player. Regular-season statistics (games started, games played, minutes played, and player efficiency rating [PER]) were compiled for the season before, and 2 seasons immediately after, injury. Kaplan-Meier survivorship plots were computed for athlete RTP and retirement endpoints. Results: A total of 81 injuries were identified from 2010 to 2018, with a rate of 2.0 concussions per 100 player-years. Overall RTP was 100% after concussion, with nearly all (88%) returning in the season of injury; 12% of players experienced a season-ending concussion. RTP averaged 37.3 days after injury, varying widely (range, 2-291 days). Compared with preinjury season (78.0%), athletes played in significantly fewer overall games in the season of injury (36.6%; P < .0001), as well as 1 (69.5%; P = .0229) and 2 seasons postinjury (73.2%; P = .3192). PER scores were not significantly different across the study period. Each point increase in a player’s preinjury PER score was associated with a 2.4% decrease in PER from the preinjury season to season of injury ( P = .0016) and a 3.1% decrease from preinjury to season after injury ( P = .0053). Each increasing year of age or year of experience was associated with 5% decline in PER score at 1 season after injury. Conclusion: NBA players had a high RTP after concussion, with most returning in the same season as the injury. Players sustaining concussions played significantly fewer games for at least 2 seasons after injury. Performance via PER did not change across the entire cohort; however, players with higher preinjury PER, and older players were more likely to sustain a greater decline in performance after injury.

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