Longitudinal Monitoring of Head Impacts in Elite Junior Ice Hockey

NCT07341880 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: DRAK-CARE
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 52
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Head impact exposure

  Head impacts will be recorded using the Bearmind helmet-mounted sensor during all games and practices over the competitive season.

  Continuously throughout one full competitive season during all games and practices (up to 9 months)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Heart rate variability (HRV) using a 12-minute protocol

  At baseline, at mid-season (14 weeks from baseline), at end of season (up to 9 months from baseline), and within 5 days following a diagnosed concussion or severe head impact.

• Dual-task cognitive and motor performance

  At baseline, at mid-season (14 weeks from baseline), at end of season (up to 9 months from baseline), and within 5 days following a diagnosed concussion or severe head impact.

• Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT6) score

  At baseline, and at 1 day and 4 days post-injury following a diagnosed concussion or severe head impact.

Study Arms (1)

Young Hockey Players

Elite junior ice hockey players will be monitored over one full season. Each player will wear a helmet sensor (Bearmind) to record head impacts. Heart rate variability (Polar H10) and dual-task tests will be conducted pre-, mid-, and post-season. After any concussion, both measures will be repeated at 3 days post-injury, with dual-task testing every 3 days until return to sport. Following a severe head impact, assessments will occur 3 days post-impact.

Device: Head impact monitoring; Other: Heart rate variability monitoring; Other: Dual-task cognitive and motor assessment

Interventions

Dual-task cognitive and motor assessment OTHER

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.

Young Hockey Players

Head impact monitoring DEVICE

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

Young Hockey Players

Heart rate variability monitoring OTHER

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.

Young Hockey Players

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of licensed junior ice hockey players from the Hockey Club of Caen, competing in the U15 and U18 categories. These athletes regularly participate in competitive games and practices throughout the season and represent a cohort of developing players exposed to repeated head impacts in a real-world sports setting.

You may qualify if:

• Licensed athletes from the Hockey Club of Caen, playing in the U15 or U18 teams.

You may not qualify if:

• Inability of the participant or their legal representative to receive study information or comply with study requirements.
• Participant or legal representative cannot be reached (in person, by phone, or by email) during the sports season.
• Refusal of the participant or their legal representative to participate in the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital, Caen: lead
• INSERM UMR U1075 Comète GIP Cyceron, unicaen, Caen Normandie: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Caen Normandie

Caen, Normandy, France

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Brain Concussion; Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Brain Injuries; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Craniocerebral Trauma; Trauma, Nervous System; Head Injuries, Closed; Wounds and Injuries; Wounds, Nonpenetrating; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor, Consulting Physician

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 28, 2025
• First Posted: January 14, 2026
• Study Start: September 3, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2028
• Last Updated: January 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Locations

FR (1)