Do Hockey Players Need Aerobic Fitness? Relation Between Vo sub(2)max and Fatigue During High-Intensity Intermittent Ice Skating

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research 2007-08, Vol.21 (3), p.963-966
• Main Authors: Carey, Daniel G, Drake, Melanie M, Pliego, German J, Raymond, Robert L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1064-8011
• DOI: 10.1519/R-18881.1

The primary objective of this study was to assess the relationship between aerobic capacity, as measured by the Vo sub(2)max test, and recovery from high-intensity intermittent exercise. Eleven female collegiate hockey players agreed to participate. Subjects skated 5 1-lap intervals around the hockey rink at maximal intensity with a 30-second recovery period between skates. The Vo sub(2)max test was performed on a motor-driven treadmill after a modified Bruce protocol. A fatigue index was calculated by measuring the total increase in skate time from trial 1 to trial 5. This fatigue index was then correlated to Vo sub(2)max. This correlation coefficient (-0.422) was not significant (p > 0.05) and indicated that only 17.8% of the variance in Vo sub(2)max could be explained by the fatigue index. It was concluded that ability to recover from high-intensity intermittent exercise is not related to aerobic capacity. Coaches and trainers probably do not need to include aerobic training in their practices, because the high-intensity interval training commonly seen in hockey training also improves aerobic capacity, as reflected in the high Vo sub(2)max values of these subjects.