loss of conciousness

As a full-contact sport that takes place on the ice with fast-moving players equipped with sticks, pucks and skate blades, ice hockey's risk for injury is always high. Concussions and many other serious hockey injuries are, however, preventable. In addition to altering the way they play the game, players can take prevention measures both before and during the season.

Concussions don't usually show up on most magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams or CAT scans. As a result, conventional CT or MRI scans of the brain are usually not needed where post-concussion symptoms are mild and clear within a week to ten days. A CT or MRI is, however, recommended in some circumstances.