Comparación de las variables de rendimiento en las principales ligas europeas de hockey sobre patines / Comparação das variáveis de rendimento nas principais ligas europeias de hóquei em patins / Comparison of performance variables in the main European rink hockey leagues

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo comparar las variables de rendimiento del hockey patines en los campeonatos nacionales de la máxima categoría masculina en España (OK Liga), Portugal (Primeira Divisao) e Italia (Serie A1). Se analizaron un total de 1.665 partidos disputados entre las temporadas 2018-2019 y 2020-2021, correspondientes a la OK Liga (654), Primeira Divisao (497) y la Serie A1 (514). Se realizaron comparaciones utilizando el análisis de varianza (ANOVA) con post hoc de Bonferroni y la prueba t-Student para comparar las variables según la localización del partido. Los resultados muestran que en España se marcan menos goles por partido, que en Italia se marcan más goles por partido y que en Portugal hay más ejecuciones y goles de penalti y de falta directa, mayor cantidad de faltas y de tarjetas y un mayor porcentaje de goles de pelota parada respecto a los goles totales. En los tres campeonatos las variables de rendimiento asociadas a la victoria fueron favorables a los equipos locales. La comparación de los campeonatos puede permitir a los entrenadores tener un mejor conocimiento de las variables de rendimiento de cada competición y ayudar a las federaciones a conocer que competiciones están mejor asociadas con las variables determinantes del espectáculo deportivo, especialmente los goles, para diseñar propuestas de mejoras en los campeonatos pertinentes. (AU)

The present study aimed to compare the rink hockey performance variables in the top national championships of Spain (OK Liga), Portugal (Primeira Divisao), and Italy (Serie A1). A sample of 1,665 matches corresponding to the OK Liga (654), Primeira Divisao (497), and Serie A1 (514) played between the 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 seasons was analyzed. Comparisons were made using an analysis of the variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni's post hoc multiple comparison test. Additionally, the t-Student test was used to compare each variable according to match location. The results show that in Spain, teams score fewer goals per match and inItaly more goals per match. In Portugal, we observe more set-piece shots, more goals, a higher percentage of goals coming from set-pieces compared to total goals, more fouls, and cards shown. Moreover, the performance variables associated with victory were favourable to the local teams in all three championships. Championship comparison enables coaches to understand better specific and contextual performance variables. Our research could also help governing bodies and federations know what competitions arebetter associated with several key performance indicators and design proposals to improve each championship. (AU)

O presente estudo teve como objetivo comparar as variáveis de rendimento do hóquei em patins nos campeonatos nacionais do escalão masculino mais alto em Espanha (OK Liga), Portugal (Primeira Divisão) e Itália (Série A1). Foram analisados 1.665 jogos disputados entre as épocas 2018-2019 e 2020-2021, correspondendo à OK Liga (654), Primeira Divisão (497) e Série A1 (514). As comparações foram feitas usando a análise de variância post hoc de Bonferroni (ANOVA) e o teste t de Student para comparar as variáveis de acordo com a localização do jogo. Os resultados mostram que em Espanha marcam-se menos golos por jogo e em Italia mais golos per jogo. Em Portugal há mais execuções e golos de grandes penalidades e livres diretos, mais faltas e cartões e uma maior percentagem de golos de bola parada em relação ao total de golos. Nos três campeonatos as variáveis de rendimento associadas à vitória foram favoráveis às equipas locais. A comparação dos campeonatos pode permitir que os treinadores tenham um melhor conhecimento das variáveis de rendimento de cada competição e ajudar as federações a saber quais competições estão mais associadas às variáveis determinantes do espetáculo desportivo, em especial os golos, para traçar propostas de melhora nos aspectos relevantes dos campeonatos. (AU)

Epidemiology of Rink Hockey-Related Injuries.

CONTEXT: Determining the rate of injuries related to a certain sport is accepted as the primary step toward designing, implementing, and evaluating injury prevention programs. The aim of this study was to examine the injuries sustained by semiprofessional Spanish rink hockey players and to compare data per playing position. DESIGN: Observational and retrospective. METHODS: Athletes from 21 teams were surveyed via a self-reported questionnaire to screen for incidence, injury burden, location, tissue, and onset of injuries. RESULTS: Overall, 101 time loss injuries were reported across 22,241 hours of exposure, giving rise to an incidence rate of 4.5/1000 hours. The main body regions injured were the hip/groin, shoulder, thigh, and head, accounting altogether for 47.5% of all injuries. Musculotendinous injuries were the most frequent, comprising 27.7% of all injuries. Incidence accounted for 3.1/1000 hours during training and 23/1000 hours during games (P < .001). A high number of injuries were caused by contact (46.5%). No differences were found for any of the variables analyzed between outfield players and goalkeepers. CONCLUSION: The injury incidence in rink hockey is moderate, occurring mainly due to a contact mechanism. Preventative measurements should be implemented in rink hockey with a special concern for injuries affecting the hip/groin and head.

Analysis of injuries during the 2019 Rink Hockey World Championship.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to describe the incidence and characteristics of injuries at the 2019 Rink Hockey World Championship. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed among rink hockey athletes from three National Teams (Argentina, Portugal, and Spain). All injuries were reported by the medical staff of each National Team during the preparation period and the competition in the 2019 World Championship (Barcelona, Spain). Injury rate was calculated as the number of injuries per 1000 hours of player-hours of exposure. RESULTS: A total of 91 players (n = 61, 67% male; and n = 30, 33% female) participated in the study: 31 Senior Male (34%), 30 Senior Female (33%), and 30 Under-19 Male (33%). A total of 54 games were played by 9 teams from 3 countries, comprising of 4562 and 4380 hours of total athletic game and training exposure recorded, respectively. Fifty-one injuries (20 injuries with time-loss and 31 medical attention -injuries with no time-loss) were reported. The overall injury incidence rate was 11.2/1000 hours (95% CI, 8.5-14.7). The injury incidence during games (27.5; 95% CI, 11.6-65.2) was higher than the injury incidence during training sessions (3.4; 95% CI, 2-5.7). The incidence rate for game for the entire study period was 8.19 times higher (95% CI, 2.61-21.36) than that for training. The global injury burden was 45.4 days/1000 hours for a total exposure time. Acute was the most frequently documented onset and the non-contact was the most common mechanism. The most frequently reported injuries were head contusion (n = 5, 25%), followed by thigh injuries (n = 3, 15%). CONCLUSIONS: The injury incidence reported in a Rink Hockey international competition was 11.2/1000 hours. The risk of injury was higher during games than during training. Prevention strategies for injuries in these kinds of championships may be worth discussing. The craniofacial injuries were the most frequently reported.

Injury epidemiology in the men’s and women’s Spanish rollerhockey league: a descriptive study / Epidemiología lesional en la liga española de hockey patines masculina yfemenina: un estudio descriptivo

The purpose of the present study is to describe the injury patterns among male and female athletes of the Spanish Rink hockey league. A cross-sectional study was performed, concerning the time-loss injuries (the athlete is prevented to participate in a training session / game because of the injury registered by the medical staff of every team. 137 athletes were included (98 male, age 26.7 ± 5.9 years; 39 female, age 23.3 ± 4.6 years). Ninety-four time-loss injuries were recorded, being the most frequent the muscle injury (38 episodes, 40.4%), especially the ones affecting the adductor longus muscle (23 episodes, 60,5% of the muscle injuries). The majority of the registered injuries were classified as mild (1-7 days of time-loss) but the and the median return-to-play was 19.4 ± 29.6 days. Eight episodes of reinjury were described (8.5% of total injuries) and 2 injuries required surgical treatment (2.1% of total injuries). Concerning female athletes, we can highlight a increased number of ligament injuries in the lower limbs compared with male athletes and the absence of tendinopathies causing time-loss. The knee injuries were the injuries with a higher return-to-play in goalkeepers. The present study is the first to describe the injury patterns among rink hockey elite athletes and must set a starting point to study and prevent injuries in this sport.(AU)

El propósito del presente estudio es describir los patrones lesionales durante una temporada de los deportistas de la máxima competición masculina y femenina de Hockey Patines en España. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de las lesiones con baja deportiva (el/la deportista no puede participar como mínimo en un entrenamiento o partido debido a la lesión) recogidas por los equipos biomédicos de cada equipo. Se estudiaron 137 deportistas (98 hombres, con una media de edad de 26,7 ± 5,9 años y 39 mujeres con una media de edad de 23,3 ± 4,6 años) Se recogieron un total de 94 lesiones con baja deportiva, siendo las más frecuentes las lesiones musculares (38 episodios, 40,4% de las lesiones totales), en especial del músculo aductor largo (23 episodios, 60,5% de las lesiones musculares). La mayoría de lesiones registradas fueron leves (1-7 días de baja deportiva) aunque el tiempo medio de baja fue de 19,4 ± 29,6 días. Se recogieron 8 episodios de relesión (8,5% de las lesiones totales) y 2 lesiones que precisaron tratamiento quirúrgico (2,1% de las lesiones totales). Al estudiar a las deportistas femeninas destaca que presentaron un mayor número de lesiones ligamentosas de extremidades inferiores en comparaciones con los varones y no se describió ningún episodio de tendinopatía.Al estudiar las lesiones específicas de los porteros/as se evidenció que las lesiones que causaban más baja deportiva eran las lesiones de rodilla. El presente estudio es el primero en describir las lesiones en jugadores/as de primer nivel de hockey patines y debe marcar un punto de partida para el estudio y prevención de las lesiones en este deporte.(AU)

Injury incidence and patterns in rink hockey: A systematic review

This systematic review aims to analyze studies on the extent of injuries in rink hockey athletes. Quality of the reported information was also analyzed. A literature search was performed from January 1992 until August 2020 using the main databases The search terms were: “rink hockey” or the synonym “roller hockey” and “injur*”.A total of 11 studies were considered eligible and included. Of these, nine were cross-sectional or descriptive. All samples were non-random, and only one study used a standardized consensus classification of injuries.Muscle strains were the most frequent injuries and lower limbs the most affected body regions. Moreover, overuse was the most common cause, and injury severity was primarily moderate. Injury burden was not reported, and the incidence rate ranged from 3.23–9.7 injuries/1000 h.We conclude that the quality of the reports has room for improvement in terms of study design, outcome, epidemiology measures, and investigation of injury characteristics. (AU)

The Influence of Individual Set-Pieces in Elite Rink Hockey Match Outcomes.

The main objective of this study was to analyze the influence of individual set-pieces (Free Direct Hits and Penalties) in elite rink hockey match outcomes in different game situations. A sample of 161 matches played between high-standard teams during ten consecutive seasons (2009-2010 to 2018-2019) were analyzed using a binary logistic regression. The full evaluated model was composed of an explanatory variable (set-pieces scored) and five potential confounding and interaction variables (match location, match level, match importance, extra time, and balanced score). However, the final model only included one significant interaction variable (balanced score). The results showed that scoring more individual set-pieces than the opponent was associated with victory (OR = 6.1; 95% CI: 3.7, 10.0) and was more relevant in unbalanced matches (OR = 19.5; 95% CI: 8.6, 44.3) than in balanced matches (OR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.2, 4.5). These findings indicate that individual set-pieces are strongly associated with match outcomes in matches played between high-standard teams. Therefore, it is important for teams to excel in this aspect, and it is suggested that these data can encourage coaches to reinforce the systematic practice of individual set-pieces in their training programs. Additionally, it is suggested that teams have specialist players in this kind of action to mainly participate in these specific match moments.

Analysis of the Individual Set-Pieces Influence on the Teams' Ranking in Rink Hockey.

The main objective of this research was to analyze the individual set-pieces influence on the final season ranking in rink hockey. For this purpose, 6,920 individual set-pieces from 1,680 matches corresponding to free direct hits (n = 4,332) and penalty shots (n = 2,588) were analyzed during seven consecutive seasons (2012-13 to 2018-19) in the First Spanish League (Ok Liga). The variables recorded were the following for each team: total points, free direct hits attempted, free direct hits scored, penalties attempted, penalties scored, total goals scored during the season, free direct hits received, goals received from free direct hits, penalties received, goals received from penalties and total goals received in the season. Results showed that 21.08% of the goals were scored by free direct hits and penalty shots (11.58% and 9.49%, respectively). Likewise, teams ranked in a better position achieved higher effectiveness in individual set-pieces and their goalkeepers were more effective in defending the free direct hits and penalties. Furthermore, results showed significant correlations between team season points and better performance in individual set-pieces variables. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrated the importance of systematic practice of free direct hits and penalty shots for teams' success in rink hockey. Additionally, it is suggested that teams possess special players to execute these particular elements of match play.

The Behaviour of Home Advantage during the COVID-19 Pandemic in European Rink Hockey Leagues.

The primary purpose of the present study was to compare the home advantage (HA) and the home team performance in the most relevant European rink hockey leagues (Spanish, Portuguese and Italian), considering the presence or absence of spectators in the competition venues due to the effect of COVID-19 restrictions. The sample was composed of 1665 rink hockey matches (654 from the Spanish league, 497 from the Portuguese league, and 514 from the Italian league) played between the 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 seasons. The HA and match variables comparisons were established using several negative binomial regression models. Results showed that the effect of HA did not disappear despite playing without spectators but decreased from 63.99% to 57.41% (p = 0.002). Moreover, the comparison of the match variables showed that playing with spectators benefited local teams' performance, especially in the Portuguese and Italian leagues. Playing with spectators favoured local team performance in rink hockey matches, which is more evident in some analysed leagues. However, as HA does not disappear entirely without spectators, it is necessary to study other relevant performance factors that are not directly or indirectly attributable to crowd behaviour in rink hockey performance analyses.

Inspiratory muscle training on lung function of male roller hockey players: a randomized controlled trial pilot study.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that inspiratory muscle training (IMT) increases the athlete's performance by decreasing the work of the respiratory muscles during exercise. IMT has shown positive results in the pulmonary function of athletes, and it was hypothesized that 4 weeks of intervention could increase lung function at rest. Investigate the influence of IMT on lung function of male roller hockey players. METHODS: Eleven male roller hockey players were randomized and allocated in the experimental group (EG) or control group (CG). Forced expiratory volume in first second, forced vital capacity, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were assessed with spirometry, in the beginning of the study and 4 weeks later. The EG (n = 6) was submitted to an IMT using a threshold during 4 weeks, 3 times a week, 30 repetitions with 50% of maximal inspiratory pressure. The CG (n = 5) was not submitted to any intervention. RESULTS: Baseline pulmonary variables, forced expiratory volume in first second, forced vital capacity, and PEF, sociodemographic, and anthropometric characteristics were not significantly different among EG and CG. Significant increase on PEF (P = .033) was found in the EG after IMT. CONCLUSION: IMT with threshold seems to have a positive impact on PEF in roller hockey players. These findings may be corroborated by further controlled randomized studies.

Flexibility in Spanish Elite Inline Hockey Players: Profile, Sex, Tightness and Asymmetry.

Limited ranges of motion (ROM) have been considered as a relevant risk factor for team sports injuries. The main purposes of the current study were to describe the lower extremity ROM profile, muscular tightness and asymmetries in elite inline hockey players and to examine sex-related differences. Twenty professional inline hockey players from 2 Spanish National Teams (male and female) were measured of passive hip extension [HE], hip adduction with hip flexed 90° [HAD-HF], hip flexion with the knee flexed [HF-KF] and extended [HF-KE], hip abduction with the hip neutral [HAB] and hip flexed 90° [HAB-HF], hip external [HER] and internal [HIR] rotation, knee flexion [KF], ankle dorsiflexion with the knee flexed [ADF-KF] and extended [ADF-KE] ROMs of the dominant and non-dominant leg ROMs were taken. A paired t-test was carried out to assess asymmetries. ROM values were classified as "normal versus tightness", and "normal versus asymmetry" according to the proposed reference values. The effect size for each variable was analyzed. Male team exhibited asymmetry in HF-KF (133.2° dominant vs. 129.8° non-dominant; p = 0.042; d = 0.7243 [moderate effect sizes]) and female team in ADF-KF (38.8° dominant vs. 41.0 non-dominant; p = 0.001; d = 0.6 [moderate effect sizes]) and HAB ROM (41.2° dominant vs. 38.8 non-dominant; p = 0.005; d = 1.1767 [moderate effect sizes]). Male players reported asymmetry in HAD-HF (n = 5), HER (n = 4) and HE (n = 3), whereas female players presented asymmetries in HER (n = 4), HE (n = 3) and KF (n = 2). Overall, 20-100% of all participants showed limited KF, HF_KE, HIR, HE, ADF_KF, HAD-HF, HF-KF, ADF_KE, HTR and HER ROM. The results of this study reinforce the requirement of prescribing exercises aimed at improving hip, knee and ankle ROM within everyday inline hockey practices. In addition, as some asymmetries were found, unilateral flexibility training should be considered where appropriate.