Effect of training effort on neuromuscular control, static balance and muscle mechanical properties in ice hockey players

Abstract

In the study we aimed to determine the impact of training effort on neuromuscular control, static balance and mechanical properties of muscles depending on the sports level/competition experience in hockey players of the academic and senior teams. The study was conducted on hockey players of the senior team (n = 17) and the academic team (n = 21). All measurements were made in the sports hall and ice rink where both teams train. We measured the muscle stiffness, postural stability and competitor's jump height before and after training. The most important observation was that after the end of the same training unit, the senior team players achieved higher values in the CMJ (p = .000102) and SJ (p = .000020) tests and lower values in the stabilometric tests than the academic players. This may indicate a high training adaptation visible in athletes with a longer training experience, in whom an increased level of power and improvement in balance were observed, despite the increasing training fatigue. Our results suggest increased ice hockey-specific training adaptation and exercise tolerance in players with extended training experience. This information shows a more significant impact of training experience than chronological age.