A Comparison of Skating Economy On-Ice and On the Skating Treadmill

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare skating economy and oxygen uptake (VO2) on-ice and on the skating treadmill (TM). Male varsity hockey players (n = 15, age = 21.0 yr) performed skating tests on a TM and on-ice. The subjects skated for 4 min at each of 3 submaximal velocities (18, 20, and 22 km • h−1), separated by 5 min of passive recovery. A VO2max test followed the submaximal tests and commenced at 24 km • h−1 with the velocity increasing by 1 km • hr−1 every minute until volitional fatigue. VO2 was 39.7, 42.9, 46.0, and 53.4 ml • kg−1 • min−1 at 18, 20, 22, and maximum speed (km • hr−1) on the TM. VO2 was significantly lower (p < .05) 31.5, 36.9, and 42.7 ml • kg−1 • min−1 at 18, 20, and 22 km • h−1 on-ice. The on-ice VO2max (54.7 ml • kg−1 • min−1) was similar to TM. Stride rate, stride length and heart rate (HR) were significantly different on-ice compared to TM. These results show that at submaximal velocities, VO2, HR, and stride rate are higher on TM compared to on-ice. VO2max was similar while HRmax was higher on the skating treadmill compared to on-ice. Keywords: VO2, ice hockey, stride kinetics, heart rate