Improvement of Ice Hockey Players' On-Ice Sprint With Combined Plyometric and Strength Training.
BACKGROUND
Combined plyometric and strength training has previously been suggested as a strategy to improve skating performance in ice hockey players. However, the effects of combined plyometric and strength training have not previously been compared with the effects of strength training only.


PURPOSE
To compare the effects of combined plyometric and strength training on ice hockey players' skating sprint performance with those of strength training only.


METHODS
Eighteen participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups that completed 5 strength-training sessions/wk for 8 wk. One group included plyometric exercises at the start of 3 sessions/wk (PLY+ST), and the other group included core exercises in the same sessions (ST). Tests of 10- and 35-m skating sprints, horizontal jumping, 1-repetition-maximum (1 RM) squat, skating multistage aerobic test (SMAT), maximal oxygen consumption, repeated cycle sprints, and body composition were performed before and after the intervention.


RESULTS
The participants increased their 1RM squat, lean mass, and body mass (P < .05), with no difference between the groups. Furthermore, they improved their 3×broad jump, repeated cycle sprint, and SMAT performance (P < .05), with no difference between the groups. PLY+ST gained a larger improvement in 10-m on-ice sprint performance than ST (P < .025).


CONCLUSION
Combining plyometric and strength training for 8 wk was superior to strength training alone at improving 10-m on-ice sprint performance in high-level ice hockey players.
['Dæhlin|Torstein E|TE|', 'Haugen|Ole C|OC|', 'Haugerud|Simen|S|', 'Hollan|Ivana|I|', 'Raastad|Truls|T|', 'Rønnestad|Bent R|BR|']
D000293:Adolescent D054874:Athletic Performance D001823:Body Composition D006688:Hockey D006801:Humans D008297:Male D009664:Norway D010101:Oxygen Consumption D059385:Plyometric Exercise D055070:Resistance Training D012861:Skating D055815:Young Adult
skating sprint off-ice training strength and conditioning stretch-shortening cycle