Longitudinal Monitoring of Head Impacts in Elite Junior Ice Hockey

Summary

This study aims to better understand how head impacts during ice hockey affect the brain and body, especially in young athletes. Even when players do not show clear signs of concussion, these repeated impacts may cause subtle changes in the brain's structure and in how the body regulates basic functions, such as heart rhythm and attention.

This study will follow elite junior ice hockey players over the course of one full season to better understand the effects of repeated head impacts. Using a small helmet sensor (Bearmind) and video analysis, researchers will record and analyze every head impact that occurs during games and practices.

Three times during the season - before, mid-season, and after - players will complete assessments of heart rate variability (using Polar H10 monitors) and a dual-task test that measures attention and coordination.

After any diagnosed concussion, players will be reassessed with both heart rate variability and dual-task testing at 3 days post-injury. Following that, dual-task testing alone will be repeated every 3 days until return to sport. Players who experience a severe head impact, as detected by the helmet sensor, will also be evaluated 3 days after the impact with both heart rate variability and dual-task testing, even if no concussion symptoms are present.

By combining these measures, the study aims to detect early physiological and cognitive changes following head impacts, improve understanding of sub-concussive effects, and support better prevention and management strategies for young athletes.

Conditions

• Concussion (Diagnosis)
• Sport-related Concussion
• Hockey Player

Interventions

DEVICE

Head impact monitoring

Players wear a helmet-mounted sensor (Bearmind) during games and practices to record and quantify head impacts.

OTHER

Heart rate variability monitoring

Players wear a Polar H10 heart rate monitor to measure heart rate variability at designated times during the season. HRV is assessed pre-, mid-, and post-season, and again 3 days after a diagnosed concussion or sever head impact to evaluate autonomic nervous system responses.

OTHER

Dual-task cognitive and motor assessment

Players perform a dual-task test combining cognitive and motor activities while wearing a chest-mounted sensor to capture movement and performance metrics. Assessments are conducted pre-, mid-, and post-season, 3 days after a concussion or severe impact , and every 3 days until return to sport after a concussion.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• INSERM UMR U1075 Comète GIP Cyceron, unicaen, Caen Normandie

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University Hospital, Caen

  lead OTHER

Eligibility

Min Age

13 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-03

Primary Completion

2026-05-31

Completion

2028-06-30

Countries

• France

Study Locations