Physiological profile of professional hockey players - a longitudinal comparison

Abstract

This paper examines the size, strength, and aerobic fitness of players from a professional hockey team. Beginning in 1917, data on body size were obtained from historical records of the Montreal Canadiens. Body composition, strength, and VO2 max were obtained through physiological testing of Canadiens players between 1981 and 2003. Compared with players in the 1920s and 1930s, current players were an average of 17 kg heavier and 10 cm taller, with BMI increased by 2.3 kg/m2. The gain in BMI was not attributed to added fat mass, since percent body fat remained unchanged over the past 22 years. From 1992 to 2003, upper body strength was assessed using a bench press test. Predicted 1 repetition maximum (1 RM) for the 17- to 19-year-old group was 107.0 kg with the highest values attained by the 25- to 29-year-old age group (128.1 kg). Gains in body mass were associated with an increase in upper body strength. VO(2 max) was measured annually on a treadmill between 1992 and 2003 with annual mean values ranging between 54.6 and 59.2 mL x (kg x min)(-1). Compared with values from players in the early 1980s, VO2 max has increased with the improvements independent of body mass; however, given the variability in the data, we are hesitant to infer that VO(2 max) has increased significantly during the 1990s.

Physical development of hockey players aged 13-16 years

“…This is indicated by a shift in the values of the centile distribution to the right and an increase in BMI. BMI of 14 years old hockey players has become more approximate to the values of adult highly skilled hockey players [16][17][18]. Compared to peer-to-peer players [29,30], hockey players of this age have large BMI values, length and body weight.…”

“…Adult highly skilled hockey players are characterized by a relatively large body weight (91.4-94.5 kg) and body length above the average (185.3-186.5 cm) [14][15][16]. There is a correlation between the success of international teams and the body mass indicator and body mass index (BMI) [17].…”

MRI findings and physical performance as predictors of flight-induced musculoskeletal pain incidence among fighter pilots

“…The young pilots performed quite well in the physical performance tests compared to the literature [3,26,28], but the average results were only barely satisfactory compared to typical endurance or strength sports athletic levels [20]. The physical performance, like the MRI findings, was mainly not associated with perceived pain, which reflects well the multifactorial nature of this issue.…”

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“…On average, the players use 70-80% of their maximum aerobic power; there are differences due to various skating levels of individual players. Physiological demands on the players vary depending on the position of each player in the team (goalkeeper, defender, forward) and their playing style (Brocherie et al, 2005;Hoff et al, 2005;Manners, 2004;Montgomery, 2006;Quinney et al, 2008;Sigmund, Kohn, Sigmundová, in press;Vescovi et al, 2006). The facts mentioned above have an effect on the structure of sports training with regard to sports specialization.…”