Minimizing Ice Hockey Injuries through Improved Leg Adductor Muscle Strengthening

Previous research has indicated that a specific regimen of leg adductor muscle exercises targeting "at risk" National Hockey League players can significantly reduce in-season injuries. The overall adductor muscle strain injury incidence in the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 regular seasons was 17 players per 1000 players, which declined to 13.6 per 1000 players in the seasons following the strength exercise intervention (Tyler, 2002, p. 682). However, little is known about how these exercises actually target, activate, and strengthen these adductor muscles for use during a skating stride. In this sophomore Scholars research, I am using biomechanical kinematics data to compare activation and performance of the leg adductor muscles during stationary training exercises and a roller blading skating stride. To collect the kinematic data, individual reflective markers are placed on specific lower limb joints and body landmarks. The analysis software Tracker determines the angular acceleration of the leg during the exercises, which is used to model the moment of inertia of the legs during the exercises. This research will expand on the effectiveness of Tracker as a tool in biomechanical kinematics research through a comparison to the forces exerted in studies of similar exercises. The data will provide a physiological and biomechanical comparison between stationary training exercises and the actual muscle use during the skating stride. The research has implications in the injury prevention of adductor muscles in the leg by potentially editing and shortening the current training program while still producing similar or greater success rates. Tyler, Timothy F., et al. "The Effectiveness of a Preseason Exercise Program to Prevent Adductor Muscle Strains in Professional Ice Hockey Players." The American Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 30, no. 5, 2002, pp. 680-683., doi:10.1177/03635465020300050801.