Importance of joint angle-specific hip strength for skating performance in semiprofessional ice hockey athletes
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Volume
35
Issue
9
First Page
2599
Last Page
2603
PubMed ID
34431485
Publisher
National Strength and Conditioning Association / Wolters Kluwer
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences / Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research
RAS ID
36329
Abstract
Ice hockey athletes with faster sprint acceleration and change-of-direction (COD) skating performance possess a competitive advantage. However, it is unknown whether joint angle-specific hip strength, in combination with measures known to relate to skating performance (e.g., countermovement jump [CMJ]), better explains skating performance. The purpose of this research was to determine whether hip strength in joint angles specific to skating positions and CMJ performance explains sprint skating acceleration and COD performance. Thirteen semiprofessional male hockey (26.7 ± 6.7 years; 88.4 ± 18.1 kg; 181.9 ± 5.4 cm) athletes were assessed for CMJ performance, hip abduction and adduction strength, 10-m sprint skating acceleration, and COD (505) performance. Linear multiple regressions to predict skating acceleration and COD performance were calculated with variables chosen based on functional justification and magnitude of correlation. Hip abductor relative peak force (rPF) at 25° of hip abduction and CMJ rPF explained 46.0% (adjusted) of variance in sprint acceleration performance (F[2,12] = 6.18, p = 0.02). Countermovement jump peak eccentric velocity, adductor rPF at 50° of hip abduction, and difference in abductor rPF between 50° and 25° of hip abduction explained 85.0% (adjusted) of the variance in 505 time (F[3,12] = 22.8, p < 0.001). Hip strength at joint angles functionally relevant to skating (e.g., at 25° and 50°), in combination with relevant CMJ variables, explained large and very large amounts of variance in sprint skating acceleration and COD performance in this cohort. The inclusion of joint angle-specific hip strength profiling to a physical performance testing battery may provide practitioners with more specific knowledge on the strength of the hip through abduction range of motion, which may affect skating performance.
DOI
10.1519/JSC.0000000000004087
Access Rights
free_to_read
Comments
Secomb, J. L., Dascombe, B. J., & Nimphius, S. (2021). Importance of joint angle-specific hip strength for skating performance in semiprofessional ice hockey athletes. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35(9), 2599-2603.
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004087