Dyslexia is the most commonly occurring learning disability in the United States, characterized by difficulties with word recognition, spelling, and decoding. A growing body of literature suggests that deficits in motor skill performance exist in the dyslexic population. This study compared the performance of children with and without dyslexia on different subtests of the Test of Gross Motor Development and Movement Assessment Battery for Children and assessed whether there were developmental changes in the scores of the dyslexic group. Participants included 26 dyslexic children (19 boys and 7 girls; 9.5 yr. old, SD = 1.7) and 23 age- and sex-matched typically developing (17 boys and 6 girls; 9.9 yr. old, SD = 1.3) children as a control group. Mann-Whitney U tests indicated that the dyslexic group performed significantly lower than the control group only on the Total Balance subtest of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Additionally, the young dyslexic group performed significantly better on the Total Balance subtest, compared to the older dyslexic group. These results suggest that cerebellar dysfunction may account for differences in performance.

PREPARING PLAYERS FOR THE RIGORS OF A PROFESSIONAL ICE HOCKEY SEASON REQUIRES A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND INJURY PATTERNS OF THE SPORT. THIS ARTICLE COMBINES AN ANALYSIS OF BIOMECHANICAL AND ENERGY SYSTEM DEMANDS WITH A REVIEW OF THE MOST PROMINENT INJURIES TO PROPOSE A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT BATTERY FOR HOCKEY PLAYERS. CONCEPTS FROM MULTIPLE PERIODIZATION MODELS ARE INTEGRATED TO PRESENT AN ANNUAL PLAN, INCLUDING SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING STRATEGIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPEED, STRENGTH, AND REPEAT SPRINT ABILITY. SAMPLE TRAINING PLANS ARE USED TO ILLUSTRATE THE APPLICATION OF THE DISCUSSED PRINCIPLES, SERVING TO MAXIMIZE BOTH PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY.

Background: Despite the importance of using a thorough understanding of competition demands to optimize preparatory strategies, there is a paucity of longitudinal workload data in ice hockey. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine differences in workload characteristics between training and matches, and assess differences between forwards and defensemen. Methods: All players from a NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Team wore Catapult S5 units for all on-ice activities for two consecutive seasons. Seven workload variables (Player Load, Skating Load, Explosive Efforts, High Skate Load, Player Load·min-1, Skating Load·min-1, and Average Stride Force·lb-1) were used to quantify training and match workload characteristics. Results: Compared to training, matches resulted in significantly higher Player Load (p<0.001), Total Skating Load (p<0.001), Explosive Efforts (p<0.001), High Force Strides (p<0.001), and Average Stride Force·lb-1 (p=0.001), but training resulted in higher Player Load·min-1 (p<0.001) and Skating Load·min-1 (p<0.001). Compared to defensemen, forwards accumulated higher values in all seven workload measures, across all session types (p<.001). Conclusion: Matches required higher values in measures of intensity and volume, but lower work rate compared to training. Training had unique emphases based on when it occurred relative to the next match. Regardless of session type, forwards consistently produced higher workloads across all variables.

Neeld, KL, Peterson, BJ, Dietz, CC, Cappaert, TA, and Alvar, BA. Impact of preceding workload on team performance in collegiate men's ice hockey. J Strength Cond Res 35(8): 2272–2278, 2021—Although the workload-injury relationship has received ample research attention, the relationship between prior workload and performance in team sport remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine if preceding workloads influence competition performance in men's ice hockey. On-ice workload data were collected from all players on a NCAA Division I men's ice hockey team for 2 consecutive seasons. Training and match workloads were characterized using 7 variables (player load, skating load, explosive efforts, high force strides, player load·min−1, skating load·min−1, and average stride force·lb−1). Team performance was calculated as the difference between the subject and opposing teams' shots on goal. Nine separate ANCOVAs were performed to assess the effect of workload across quartiles of 5 different time spans (1,3,5,7 and 28 days), and low, typical, and high zones of 4 time ratios (1/28, 3/28, 5/28, and 7/28) days) on team shot differential, accounting for season quarter and rank differential between the subject and opposing team. Alpha was set a priori to 0.05. Of all workload measures included in each analysis, only 7-day high force strides (p < 0.01, eta2 = 0.72), and 7-day player load·min−1 (p < 0.05, eta2 = 0.50) had a significant effect on shot differential. Measures of skating intensity in the week preceding competition have the largest impact on team performance. These results can be used by performance coaches to examine tests of speed, power, strength, and conditioning to identify potential limiting factors to high-intensity skating, design training programs with specific need-based emphases, and make recommendations for weekly management of high-intensity skating loads.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract