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RegisterSHL-HITTNCT07031869

The Swedish Hockey League Hand and Wrist Injury Tracking Trial

An observational study of Register and Injuries, run by Dalarna County Council, Sweden at 1 site in Sweden.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study, titled Hand and Wrist Injuries in Professional Hockey Players in Sweden: A Nationwide Observational Cohort Study from the Swedish Hockey League (SHL-HITT), aims to deliver a comprehensive national overview of hand and wrist injuries among professional hockey players. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any age, men only
Conditions the study is for
Register, Injuries, Athletes
How many people
114 participants
Where
1 siteSweden
Study dates
1 Sep 2022to 31 May 2025
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Any age
  • Men only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Study population: The study population includes professional ice hockey players registered in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) from the 2022/23 season onward. This cohort encompasses athletes of varying positions who have sustained hand or wrist injuries documented in the league's injury registry.

Who may be able to join

  • Professional ice hockey players actively rostered in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) during the 2022/23 season and onwards.
  • Players with recorded forearm, hand or wrist injuries documented in the SHL injury register.

Who cannot join

  • Players not officially signed to an SHL team during the study period.
  • Injuries occurring outside the forearm, hand or wrist region.
  • Incomplete or missing injury data in the registry.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Sweden1 site
  • Center for Clinical Research Dalarna, Uppsala University, Sweden

    Falun, Dalarna County, 79182

Other trials in Sweden

About this study

Official title: Hand and Wrist Injuries in Professional Hockey Players in Sweden: A Nationwide Observational Cohort Study From the Swedish Hockey League

This study, titled Hand and Wrist Injuries in Professional Hockey Players in Sweden: A Nationwide Observational Cohort Study from the Swedish Hockey League (SHL-HITT), aims to deliver a comprehensive national overview of hand and wrist injuries among professional hockey players.

These injuries are relatively common-accounting for approximately 16% of all hockey-related injuries-and can range from minor issues to severe conditions that jeopardize player performance and careers due to prolonged absences or lasting impairment. Despite their significance, there is limited detailed knowledge regarding the specific patterns, mechanisms, and consequences of hand and wrist injuries at the elite level.

Read more

Utilizing data from a nationwide injury registry, this observational cohort study will cover three full SHL seasons: 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25. The dataset is expected to include approximately 2,300 games, encompassing both regular season and playoff matches. The study will examine injury characteristics such as type (e.g., fractures, soft tissue damage), player position, in-game timing, and additional contextual factors. Statistical analyses will be conducted to identify trends, correlations, and potential risk profiles among different player groups or positions.

The findings are expected to support the development of enhanced protective equipment and targeted prevention strategies, ultimately contributing to reduced injury incidence and improved athlete health and career sustainability.

The study timeline includes preparation in late 2024, with data collection already ongoing and ethical approval obtained. The analysis will begin following the publication of the study protocol, and we aim for final publication of results in the second half of 2025.

Read the detailed description

This nationwide observational cohort study, titled Hand and Wrist Injuries in Professional Hockey Players in Sweden: A Nationwide Observational Cohort Study from the Swedish Hockey League (SHL-HITT), aims to systematically characterize the epidemiology and distribution of hand and wrist injuries among elite ice hockey players in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Given that upper extremity injuries constitute a significant proportion of hockey-related trauma, with approximately 16% involving the forearm, wrist, and hand, this study addresses a critical gap in the literature regarding the incidence, nature, and severity of these injuries in professional athletes. Utilizing registry data collected since the 2022/23 SHL season, including detailed player baseline characteristics, injury diagnoses classified by ICD codes, and contextual game data, the study will employ descriptive and inferential statistical analyses to elucidate patterns of fracture and soft tissue injuries. Particular emphasis will be placed on evaluating injury mechanisms relative to player position and game situations. Statistical methods will include Pearson correlation, chi-square tests, and parametric or non-parametric tests as appropriate, with significance set at p<0.05. Findings from this study are expected to contribute valuable insights for the development of evidence-based injury prevention strategies and tailored protective interventions aimed at reducing the burden of hand and wrist injuries, thereby potentially enhancing player safety and performance outcomes in professional ice hockey.

Keywords
hand, wrist, register, athlete, professionel, ice hockey, prevention, SHL, Swedish Hockey League
Medical subject headings
Wounds and Injuries, Hand Injuries, Wrist Injuries

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT07031869
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
SHL players with hand/wrist injuries from all games in 2022/23-2024/25 seasonsThe study cohort will consist of all registered professional ice hockey players in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) who have sustained a hand or wrist injury during official SHL games over the course of three full seasons: 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25. This includes players from all 14 teams in the league. In total, the study is expected to cover approximately 2,300-2,350 games, including both regular season and playoff matches across the three seasons. All injuries recorded in the SHL's centralized medical injury registry, maintained by the Swedish Medical Association for Ice Hockey, will be included. This registry captures detailed information reported by team medical staff during each season. The cohort will include: All SHL players active during the 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25 seasons. Players of all positions (forwards, defensemen, goalkeepers) and age groups. All injuries coded under relevant ICD classifications for trauma to the elbow, forearm, wrist, and han

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Distribution and frequency of hand and wrist injuries among professional ice hockey players in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

    Anatomical location (e.g., wrist, hand, fingers, thumb)

    Type of injury (e.g., fracture, dislocation, ligament injury, tendon rupture, contusion)

    Laterality (left vs. right hand)

    Measured: For the 2022/23 to the 2024/25 season.

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Injury incidence by player position

    forward, defenseman, goalie

    Measured: For the 2022/23 to the 2024/25 season.

  2. Time of injury occurrence

    during game vs. practice; period of the game; season timing

    Measured: For the 2022/23 to the 2024/25 season.

  3. Time lost due to injury

    number of games missed or duration of absence

    Measured: For the 2022/23 to the 2024/25 season.

  4. Severity of injury

    The severity of the injuriy will be rated by the time to return to play in days.

    Minimal (1-3 days) Mild (4-7 days) Moderate (8-28 days) Severe (>28 days)

    Measured: For the 2022/23 to the 2024/25 season.

  5. Recurrence of injury

    Injuries in the same anatomical region during the study period

    Measured: For the 2022/23 to the 2024/25 season.

  6. Baseline characteristics of the cohort

    Age, stick handedness

    Measured: For the 2022/23 to the 2024/25 season.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted22 Jun 2025
  2. Study start1 Sep 2022
  3. Primary completion31 May 2025
  4. Study completion31 May 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrolment
114 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07031869
Sponsor's protocol ID
2025-01728-01
Other IDs
2025-01728-01, 2025
Acronym
SHL-HITT
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
3 Jun 2025
Last updated
28 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Any data shared with colleagues or collaborating researchers will be fully anonymized or pseudonymized to protect participant privacy in accordance with GDPR regulations. Data transfers will occur under strict confidentiality agreements, and all parties will adhere to applicable data protection laws to ensure the security and privacy of personal information. We will act in accordance with the ethical approval granted by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (EPM) and comply with all relevant local policies regarding data protection.

Publications

  • Worner T, Kauppinen S, Eek F. Injury patterns in Swedish elite female and male ice hockey - A cross-sectional comparison of past-season's injuries. Phys Ther Sport. 2024 Jan;65:83-89. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2023.12.001. Epub 2023 Dec 8.

    PubMed 38091928
  • Aman M, Forssblad M, Henriksson-Larsen K. Incidence and severity of reported acute sports injuries in 35 sports using insurance registry data. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2016 Apr;26(4):451-62. doi: 10.1111/sms.12462. Epub 2015 Apr 8.

    PubMed 25850826
  • Toong T, Wilson KE, Urban K, Paniccia M, Hunt AW, Keightley M, Reed N. Grip Strength in Youth Ice Hockey Players: Normative Values and Predictors of Performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2018 Dec;32(12):3494-3502. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002815.

    PubMed 30216250
  • Jiang R, Westwater ML, Noble S, Rosenblatt M, Dai W, Qi S, Sui J, Calhoun VD, Scheinost D. Associations between grip strength, brain structure, and mental health in > 40,000 participants from the UK Biobank. BMC Med. 2022 Sep 9;20(1):286. doi: 10.1186/s12916-022-02490-2.

    PubMed 36076200
  • Tavares Junior AC, Silva HS, Penedo T, do Amaral Rocha LGS, da Silva AS, Venditti Junior R, Dos-Santos JW. Correlation of the Handgrip Strength and Body Composition Parameters in Young Judokas. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 2;20(3):2707. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20032707.

    PubMed 36768073

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Register and Injuries, run by Dalarna County Council, Sweden at 1 site in Sweden.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Distribution and frequency of hand and wrist injuries among professional ice hockey players in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). (time frame: For the 2022/23 to the 2024/25 season.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07031869, which also lists 5 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Apr 2026.

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