Hockey injuries rising among kids.

• Position: Sports Medicine

The incidence of hockey-related injuries among children ages nine to 14 leading to emergency room visits has more than doubled over the last 20 years, according to a study by Jeff Deits, assistant athletic trainer at Kansas' Wichita State University. There were almost 3,000 hockey injuries treated in emergency departments in that age group in 1990, increasing to more than 8,000. Teen injuries (ages 15 to 18) did not increase as much as that of younger children, but still grew 85%.

Deits examined emergency department records that involved ice hockey, including structured games and those in which people were playing on ponds or open rinks.

There were significant jumps in children's and teens' injury rates and for females generally. Hockey mishaps rose 347% for girls and women. Females also made up an increasingly larger proportion of participants, almost doubling from 4.8% to 8.9%.

Part of the large rise in children's injuries undoubtedly is the result of more youngsters playing the sport. For example, the number of teenagers competing in ice hockey in high school-sanctioned leagues has increased 88%. However, injury rates seem to be outpacing the growth in participation. "We can't tell for sure, but we believe that hockey is. a much more serious sport now than it was in 1990, so kids are probably spending a lot more time on the ice. That results in more chances for injury," theorizes Deits.

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One of the more surprising findings was that nearly one in four injuries was to the face or mouth. "The only hockey players who should not be required to wear a face mask are NHL players," Deits contends. "The majority of these facial injuries are preventable if players use face masks and shields."

Deits suspects that participants in youth hockey leagues, where face...