Ground reaction forces produced by two different hockey skating arm swing techniques

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to measure the differences in ground reaction forces (GRFs) produced from an anteroposterior versus a mediolateral style hockey skating arm swing. Twenty four elite level female hockey players performed each technique while standing on a ground mounted force platform, all trials were filmed using two video cameras. Force data was assessed for peak scaled GRFs in the frontal and sagittal planes, and resultant GRF magnitude and direction. Upper limb kinematics were assessed from the video using Dartfish video analysis software, confirming that the subjects successfully performed two significantly distinct arm swing techniques. The mediolateral arm swing used a mean of 18.38° of glenohumeral flexion/extension and 183.68° of glenohumeral abduction/adduction while the anteroposterior technique used 214.17° and 28.97° respectively. The mediolateral arm swing produced 37% greater frontal plane and 33% lesser sagittal plane GRFs than the anteroposterior arm swing. The magnitudes of the resultant GRFs were not significantly different between the two techniques however the mediolateral technique produced a resultant GRF with a significantly larger angle from the direction of travel (44.44°) as compared to the anteroposterior technique (31.60°). The results of this study suggest that the direction of GRFs produced by the mediolateral arm swing more consistent with the direction of lower limb propulsion, perhaps resulting in a greater contribution to high velocity skating. Based on the findings from the present study ice hockey skaters should perform the mediolateral arm swing to maximize the effective GRFs produced with each stride.