Updating the Skating Multistage Aerobic Test and Correction for V̇o 2max Prediction Using a New Skating Economy Index in Elite Youth Ice Hockey Players

Abstract

Allisse, M, Bui, HT, Léger, L, Comtois, A-S, and Leone, M. Updating the skating multistage aerobic test and correction for V[Combining Dot Above]O2max prediction using a new skating economy index in elite youth ice hockey players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-A number of field tests, including the skating multistage aerobic test (SMAT), have been developed to predict V[Combining Dot Above]O2max in ice hockey players. The SMAT, like most field tests, assumes that participants who reach a given stage have the same oxygen uptake, which is not usually true. Thus, the objectives of this research are to update the V[Combining Dot Above]O2 values during the SMAT using a portable breath-by-breath metabolic analyzer and to propose a simple index of skating economy to improve the prediction of oxygen uptake. Twenty-six elite hockey players (age 15.8 ± 1.3 years) participated in this study. The oxygen uptake was assessed using a portable metabolic analyzer (K4b) during an on-ice maximal shuttle skate test. To develop an index of skating economy called the skating stride index (SSI), the number of skating strides was compiled for each stage of the test. The SMAT enabled the prediction of the V[Combining Dot Above]O2max (ml·kg·min) from the maximal velocity (m·s) and the SSI (skating strides·kg) using the following regression equation: V[Combining Dot Above]O2max = (14.94 × maximal velocity) + (3.68 × SSI) - 24.98 (r = 0.95, SEE = 1.92). This research allowed for the update of the oxygen uptake values of the SMAT and proposed a simple measure of skating efficiency for a more accurate evaluation of V[Combining Dot Above]O2max in elite youth hockey players. By comparing the highest and lowest observed SSI scores in our sample, it was noted that the V[Combining Dot Above]O2 values can vary by up to 5 ml·kg·min. Our results suggest that skating economy should be included in the prediction of V[Combining Dot Above]O2max to improve prediction accuracy.

Assessment of On-Ice Oxygen Cost of Skating Performance in Elite Youth Ice Hockey Players

“…To create a user-friendly skating efficiency index (SEI), the number of skating strides was divided by the skating speed for each of the 4 tests (strides·m −1 ·s −1 ). A similar approach has already been successfully proposed in swimming (22), and more recently in ice hockey during an aerobic multistage procedure (1) and seems to be an effective way to get a global indicator of mechanical efficiency.…”

Maximal Oxygen Consumption Requirements in Professional North American Ice Hockey

“…All tests were executed while the players were equipped with a portable metabolic analyzer (K4b2, Cosmed, Rome) and full hockey equipment, except for the helmet. This type of portable metabolic analyzer has previously been validated (14,24,29) and used in previously published research measuring on-ice skating aerobic capacity (1).…”

“…Over the past few decades, several studies have been conducted to describe the physiological requirements of ice-hockey players (10,11,13,17,21,22,(25)(26)(27)(28)(31)(32)(33)(34). As well, to respect the principle of specificity, efforts have mainly been directed toward the development of specific on-ice tests that can accurately assess the efficiency of the aerobic and/or anaerobic energy pathways (1,6,19,27).…”

Effect of Rest Period Duration between Sets of Repeated Sprint Skating Ability Test on the Skating Ability of Ice Hockey Players

“…A 30 s rest period was allowed before beginning the next stage. No further rise of HR at the most exhaustive stage of the test indicated attainment of HR max in the subject [11]. VO 2max was estimated from the table based on the formula [10]:…”