Email this article 
Differences in Lower Body Kinematics during Forward Treadmill Skating Between Two Different Hockey Skate Designs
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in ankle flexibility and skating technique between a traditional hockey skate boot and a hockey skate boot with a flexible rear tendon guard. Skating technique was further investigated at different speeds to give insight on how skating technique alters as skating speed is increased. Methods: Eight elite hockey players were selected for the present study, which was conducted while skating on an Endless Ice Skating Treadmill. Variables were recorded using a three-camera setup and measured from video records at five selected treadmill speeds using the Dartfish Team Pro v6 software. Kinematic variables were then compared between the two skate designs with a doubly multivariate repeated measures design. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Post hoc univariate tests comparing skate designs displayed significant increases in plantar flexion, plantar flexion angular velocity, hip extension, hip extension angular velocity, stride length, and stride velocity while participants were wearing the skates that had a flexible rear tendon guard. Significant increases were also displayed in plantar flexion, plantar flexion angular velocity, knee extension, knee extension angular velocity, hip extension, hip extension angular velocity, hip abduction range of motion, hip abduction angular velocity, stride width, stride length, and stride velocity as the treadmill speed increased. There was also a significant decrease in the time the skate was in contact with the treadmill as treadmill speed increased. Conclusion: The results suggested that while skating forward, hockey players could improve their hockey skating technique by using hockey skates that have a flexible rear tendon guard. This flexible tendon guard improved skating technique by increasing the time of force application to the ice by increasing the range of ankle plantar flexion during propulsion of the forward skating stride.
Keywords: skate design, plantar flexion, tendon guard
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Baechle, T. R., Earle, R. W., & National Strength, C. A. (2008). Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Behm, D. G., Wahl, M. J., Button, D. C., Power, K. E., & Anderson, K. G. (2005). Relationship between hockey skating speed and selected performance measures. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 19(2), 326-331.
Bourque, R. (1985). Canada Patent No.: US Patent No. 4, 276. .
Bracko, M. R. (2009). Enhancing Performance in ice hockey. In M. Duncan & M. Lyons (Eds.), Advances in Strength and Conditioning Research (pp. 243-254). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Publishers.
Chang, R., Turcotte, R., & Pearsall, D. (2009). Hip adductor muscle function in forward skating. Sports Biomechanics, 8(3), 212-222.
Clarkson, H. M. (2000). Musculoskeletal assessment: joint range of motion and manual muscle strength. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Dartfish, I. (2014). Dartfish Digital Video Analysis System. Retrieved from http://www.dartfish.com/en/sports-enhancements/sport_performance_software/index.htm
de Koning, J. J., de Groot, G., & van-Ingen-Schenau, G. J. (1989). Mechanical aspects of the sprint start in Olympic speed skating. Int J Sport Biom, 5(2), 151-168.
de Koning, J. J., Thomas, R., Berger, M., De Groot, G., & van Ingen Schenau, G. J. (1995). The start in speed skating: from running to gliding. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 27(12), 1703-1708.
Easton Hockey. (2014). Easton Hockey. Retrieved from http://eastonhockey.com/gear/products/skates/mako-skate
Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Lang, A. G., & Buchner, A. (2007). G* Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods, 39(2), 175-191.
Haguenauer, M., Legreneur, P., & Monteil, K. M. (2006). Influence of figure skating skates on vertical jumping performance. Journal of Biomechanics, 39(4), 699-707.
Hancock, S., Lamontagne, M., Stothart, J. P., & Sveistrup, H. (1999). The influence of three hockey skate boots on the range of motion, elastic moment and stiffness of the human ankle joint complex. Paper presented at the Proceedings from XVIth Conference of the International Society of Biomechanics, Calgary, Canada.
Hoshizaki, T. B., Hall, K., & Bourque, R. (1989). Montreal, Canada Patent No.: US. Patent No. 4, 885.
Hoshizaki, T. B., Kirchner, G., & Hall, K. (1989). Safety in Ice Hockey: Kinematic analysis of the talocrural and subtalar joints during the hockey skating stride. American Society for Testing and Materials, 1, 141.
Houdijk, H., De Koning, J. J., De Groot, G., Bobbert, M. F., & Van Ingen Schenau, G. J. (2000). Push-off mechanics in speed skating with conventional skates and klapskates. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32(3), 635-641.
Houdijk, H., Heijnsdijk, E. A., de Koning, J. J., de Groot, G., & Bobbert, M. F. (2000). Physiological responses that account for the increased power output in speed skating using klapskates. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, 83(4-5), 283-288.
Houdijk, H., Wijker, A. J., De-Koning, J. J., Bobbert, M. F., & De-Groot, G. (2001). Ice friction in speed skating: can klapskates reduce ice frictional loss? Medicine-and-science-in-sports-and-exercise-, 33(3), 499-504.
Kuper, G. H., & Sterken, E. (2003). Endurance in speed skating: The development of world records. European Journal of Operational Research, 148(2), 293-301.
Lafontaine, D. (2007). Three-dimensional kinematics of the knee and ankle joints for three consecutive push-offs during ice hockey skating starts. Sports Biomechanics, 6(3), 391-406
Lix, L. M., & Sajobi, T. (2010). Testing multiple outcomes in repeated measures designs. Psychological Methods, 15(3), 268.
Luhtanen, P., & Komi, P. V. (1978). Segmental contribution to forces in vertical jump. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, 38(3), 181-188.
Madore, C. (2003). Montreal, Canada Patent No.: U. Patent.
Maor, E. (2007). The Pythagorean Theorem: A 4,000-year History. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Marino, G. W., & Weese, R. G. (1979). A kinematic analysis of the ice skating stride. In J. Terauds (Ed.), Science in Skiing, Skating and Hockey. Del Mar, CA: Academic Publishers.
McPherson, M. N., Wrigley, A., & Montelpare, W. J. (2004). The biomechanical characteristics of development-age hockey players: Determining the effects of body size on the assessment of skating technique. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Special Technical Publication (pp. 272-287).
Nordin, M., & Frankel, V. H. (2012). Basic biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system
(4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & WIlkins.
Page, P. (1975). Biomechanics of forward skating in ice hockey. (MSc), Dalhousie University, Halifax.
Pearsall, D. J., Paquette, Y. M., Baig, Z., Albrecht, J., & Turcotte, R. A. (2012). Ice hockey skate boot mechanics: Direct torque and contact pressure measures. Procedia Engineering, 34, 295-300.
Pitkin, M., Smirnova, L., Scherbina, K., & Zvonareva, E. (2002). Biomechanics of ice hockey skating in amputees with foot and ankle prostheses. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 7th Annual Russian National Congress, St. Petersburg, Russia.
Quinn, E. (2015). PAR-Q- The physical activity readiness questionnaire. About Health. Retrieved from http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/fitnessevalandassessment/qt/PAR-Q.htm
Robert-Lachaine, X., Turcotte, R. A., Dixon, P. C., & Pearsall, D. J. (2012). Impact of hockey skate design on ankle motion and force production. Sports Engineering, 15(4), 197-206.
Robertson, D. G. E. (2012). Vicon Workstation Quick Reference Guide (PDF). Retrieved from http://www.health.uottawa.ca/biomech/courses/apa4311/Vicon%20Workstation%20Quick%20Reference%20Guide.pdf
Robertson, D. G. E. (2004). Research Methods in Biomechanics. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Tidman, R., Lambert, L., Cruikshank, D., & Silver-Thorn, M. . (2014). Hockey Skating Kinematics. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the Marquette University Biomedical Engineering Symposium, Milwaukee, WI.
Turcotte, R. A., Pearsall, D. J., & Montgomery, D. L. (2001). An apparatus to measure stiffness properties of ice hockey skate boots. Sports Engineering, 4(1), 43-48.
Upjohn, T., Turcotte, R., Pearsall, D. J., & Loh, J. (2008). Three-dimensional kinematics of the lower limbs during forward ice hockey skating. Sports Biomechanics, 7(2), 206-221.
Vaughan, C. L. (1988). Biomechanics of Speed Skating Biomechanics of Sport (1st edition). Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Winnpro Hockey. (2015). Winnpro Hockey. Retrieved from http://www.winnprohockey.com/About.html
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
2013-2024 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD.
International Journal of Kinesiology and Sports Science
You may require to add the 'aiac.org.au' domain to your e-mail 'safe list’ If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox'. Otherwise, you may check your 'Spam mail' or 'junk mail' folders.