Relationship between off-ice testing variables and on-ice speed in women's collegiate synchronized figure skaters: implications for training.

The purpose of the current investigation was to identify any existing relationships between off-ice performance measures and on-ice performance quantified by speed and acceleration. Twenty-seven women (age 19 +/- 1 year; body mass (59.5 +/- 6.8 kg; height 164.6 +/- 6.35 cm; body fat 23.2 +/- 3.9%) who were collegiate synchronized figure skaters volunteered for the investigation. To examine the relationship between off-ice performance and on-ice speed and acceleration, collegiate synchronized skaters were evaluated on various performance tests over a 1-week period. Off-ice tests completed were peak torque for hip abduction and adduction, 40-yard sprint, vertical jump height, 30-second slide board stride count, and a 1-RM (repetition maximum) squat. On-ice tests included a timed single lap sprint, 4.5-minute (duration of long program) lap count, and an approximately 16.5-m (18-yard blue line to blue line) timed acceleration. Significance was set at P < or = 0.05. This study showed 3 primary findings: (a) slide board stride count was the single best predictor for both single lap on-ice speed and acceleration accounting for 53.5% (adjusted R2 value) of the variance in the single lap test and 42.5% (adjusted R2 value) of the variance in acceleration times; (b) vertical jump height test was the second best predictor for both the single lap test and on-ice acceleration accounting for 36.6% and 39.9% (adjusted R2 values) of the variance in times recorded, respectively; and (c) the best combined predictors for the single lap speed test were slide board stride count and 40-yard dash (R2 = 0.675), whereas the best combined predictors for on-ice acceleration were slide board stride count and vertical jump height test (R2 = 0.571). Conditioning for synchronized skaters to enhance performance of on-the-ice speed and acceleration should include slide board training implementation of plyometric and linear speed training while developing and maintaining 1-RM strength to support power capabilities.

Effect of training on postural control in figure skaters: a randomized controlled trial of neuromuscular versus basic off-ice training programs.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of a neuromuscular training program and a basic exercise program on postural control in figure skaters. DESIGN: Two groups; parallel design; prospective, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Postural control laboratory, arenas, September 2001 to December 2002. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-four young, healthy figure skaters (18 years +/- 3 years). INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned to receive a neuromuscular training program (n = 22) or a basic exercise training program (n = 22). Both programs were completed 3 times per week for 4 weeks, and each session was supervised. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Participants completed baseline and postintervention measures of postural control on a force plate. Postural control was quantified as the center of pressure (CoP) path length during tests of single-limb standing balance that mimicked figure skating skills and challenged the postural control system to varying degrees. The primary outcome measure was the CoP path length observed during a landing jump test completed with eyes closed. RESULTS: The post intervention CoP path lengths during the more challenging tests were significantly (P < 0.05) lower (indicating better postural control) for the neuromuscular trained group than for the basic exercise-trained group. For the landing jump test completed with eyes closed, the percent improvement in the neuromuscular trained group was significantly greater (mean = 21.0 +/- 22.0%) than the basic exercise trained group (mean = -4.9 +/- 24.9%; P < 0.05). The magnitude of improvement in the neuromuscular-trained group ranged from approximately 1% to 21%, depending on the specific postural control test used. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that off-ice neuromuscular training can significantly improve postural control in figure skaters, whereas basic exercise training does not.

A prospective study of in-line skating: observational series and survey of active in-line skaters--injuries, protective equipment, and training.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To assess the relationship between types of injuries incurred and training and protective equipment worn by adults injured while in-line skating; 2) to observe the type and amount of protective equipment worn by in-line skaters while skating; and 3) to survey active in-line skaters about formal training, protective equipment, and history of injuries incurred, and the effect of such injuries on the protective equipment subsequently worn. METHODS: A prospective study of consecutive adult patients presenting to the ED for evaluation of in-line skating injuries; a consecutive-series observational study of active in-line skaters to assess protective equipment worn; and a survey of selected active in-line skaters. Eighty-five adult patients were included who presented with a history of injury related to in-line skating to the EDs of an urban academic medical center, a suburban academic-affiliated hospital, and a community hospital. Four hundred eleven active in-line skaters on the Chicago lakefront were observed for protective equipment worn, 91 of whom participated in the survey. RESULTS: Of those presenting to the ED with injuries, only 15% indicated that they had received formal in-line skating instruction. Of the ED patients, 50% wore no protective equipment; overall, 6% wore a helmet; 44%, wrist protection; 23%, knee protection; and 19%, elbow protection. Only 2% wore all of the above equipment. The primary mechanism of injury reported was a loss of balance (58%); others included collision with objects (25%), collision with bicycles (11%), and collision with cars (5%). Fractures or dislocations occurred in 48% of the patients; 6% had head injuries necessitating CT scans. Those who wore no protective gear were more likely to require hospital admission (p < 0.05). Of the 411 in-line skaters observed, 157 (38%) wore no protective equipment. Compared with the injured group presenting to the ED, fewer observed participants were without protection (p < 0.05). Among those surveyed, prior injury was not associated with the subsequent use of protective gear. CONCLUSION: Patients who present to the ED for evaluation of in-line skating injuries have a high incidence of fractures/dislocations. Few injured or surveyed in-line skaters had formal training. Use of protective equipment by injured skaters was associated with a decreased likelihood of hospitalization. Observed in-line skaters more commonly wore protective gear than did those who presented to the ED with injuries.

Wheels-in-line roller skating injuries.

Injuries sustained by patients using wheels-in-line roller skates were reviewed in a survey of 57 cases collected by the Roosevelt Hospital Hand Service and 444 cases compiled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Most patients were novice skaters in the second and third decades of life. Severe distal radius fractures and upper extremity soft-tissue trauma were the most common injuries in both groups. The distal radius (44.9%), scaphoid (13.9%), and radial head (10.4%) were the three most common fracture sites in the Roosevelt survey. Most (80%) skaters in this group did not wear protective equipment. In-line roller skating can and does produce disabling injuries. Also, several deaths were reported among skaters traveling in heavy traffic. To reduce the number of injuries, all skaters should wear protective gear, especially wrist and elbow pads. Splints reduce but do not eliminate the potential for trauma. In our study most injured skaters had not mastered controlled skating and stopping techniques. This new recreational sport is increasing in popularity and more injuries are expected if skaters fail to protect themselves properly.