Prediction of skating speed with off-ice testing in professional hockey players.

Presented at the Sports Physical Therapy Section Team Concept Meeting, December 1991, New Orleans, LA. The purpose of this study was to determine the best off-ice predictors of sprint skating speed in professional ice hockey players. Off-ice functional tests included a 40-yd dash, standing long jump, and vertical jump, as well as isokinetic testing of the quadriceps and hamstrings at speeds of 60 and 180 degrees . Skating speed was determined by a 54.9-m sprint skate test. Nine professional ice hockey players served as subjects. Skating speed was significantly correlated with vertical jump anaerobic power as determined by the Lewis formula and with several isokinetic power measurements. The single best predictor of skating speed was vertical jump anaerobic power. An even better prediction of skating speed was possible using two isokinetic measurements, the average power of the left quadriceps at 180 degrees (APLQ180) and the average power of the right hamstrings at 60 degrees (APRH60). These measurements may be used to objectively evaluate off-ice training programs designed to enhance speed skating performance. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1992;15(2):92-98.