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Mandatory protective eyewear reduces injuries in field hockey
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The use of mandatory protective eyewear by female field hockey players has reduced incidences of eye and orbital injuries, as well as severe face and head injuries, according to research published in Pediatrics.
“Among female U.S. high school field hockey players, a national mandate for protective eyewear is associated with a greater than threefold reduced risk of eye/orbital injuries and a decreased incidence of severe eye/orbital and head/face injuries,” Peter K. Kriz, MD, of the division of sports medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, and colleagues wrote. “Research now exists to support a policy change regarding mandatory protective equipment in field hockey at all amateur levels.”
The researchers collected data from the High School Reporting Information Online database and from a Virginia school district that includes 25 high schools, recorded between 2009 and 2013. In order to study the effect of the national mandate for protective eyewear in field hockey, the researchers compared data from two seasons before a national mandate was issued vs. two seasons after the mandate.
Study results showed that eye injuries were significantly more prevalent in states that did not endorse mandatory eye protection for female hockey players, with 0.08 injuries per 1,000 athletic exposures vs. 0.025 in states that require eye protection (OR = 3.2; 95% CI, 1.47-6.99).
Field hockey-related eye injuries recorded included eyebrow and eyelid lacerations, periorbital contusions and corneal abrasions.
Mandatory eyewear did not reduce incidence of concussions among female field hockey players (OR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.58-1.02). The researchers noted that field hockey remains the third highest ranked girls’ sport for frequency of concussions, with 0.335 per 1,000 athletic exposures.
“Concussion remains the most common injury involving the head and face among female field hockey players, prompting further inquiry into potential effects of adopting protective headgear/helmets,” Kriz and colleagues wrote. – by David Costill
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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