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Differences in trunk–shoulder inter-joint coordination and sequencing between elite and recreational ice hockey players during slap shots

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Abstract

There has been limited research examining kinematics during ice hockey slap shots, especially how the body segments are coordinated during this task. The objective of this study was to compare shoulder–trunk inter-joint coordination and sequencing between elite and recreational ice hockey players when completing a slap shot. Eight elite and eight recreational players completed slap shots on real ice. Kinematic data of the trunk, humerus, stick, and puck were collected using a 14-camera motion capture system. Inter-joint coordination between the shoulder and trunk was determined using continuous relative phase, and both magnitude and between-trial variability measures were calculated. To determine sequencing, peak velocity of the shoulder and trunk were determined. Mann–Whitney U tests compared coordination variables and sequencing between elite and recreational players. Elite players were more out-of-phase (i.e., anti-phase) for trunk-rotation/shoulder-elevation plane (p = 0.05) and trunk-rotation/shoulder-elevation (p = 0.03) on the trail side. Elite players had greater between-trial variability for trunk-sideflexion/shoulder-elevation on both lead (p = 0.02) and trail (p = 0.05) sides. Regarding sequencing, peak trunk angular velocity occurred earlier in relation to peak shoulder (trail side) angular velocity (p = 0.04) for elite players. The out-of-phase and greater coordination variability in elite players may allow them to adapt more easily to varying shot environments. The proximal to distal sequence might help them to produce faster puck speeds.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the students who assisted with data collection including David Greencorn, Aleks Budarick, Brian McPhee, and Kristie Liu.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation, Lethbridge-Layton-MacKay Rehabilitation Centre and the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, Canada

    S. M. Robbins

  2. Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health, McGill University, Currie Gymnasium, 475 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, Canada

    P. J. Renaud, N. MacInnis & D. J. Pearsall

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  1. S. M. Robbins
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  3. N. MacInnis
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  4. D. J. Pearsall
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by SR, PR, and NM. The first draft of the manuscript was written by SR and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to S. M. Robbins.

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Conflict of interest

David Pearsall is a guest editor for the Topical Collection on Winter Sports Research, which is a special issue published by Sports Engineering. This work was funded by Bauer Hockey Ltd. and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [CRDPJ 453725-13]. The funding source provided feedback on the written manuscript. The authors have no additional competing interests.

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Robbins, S.M., Renaud, P.J., MacInnis, N. et al. Differences in trunk–shoulder inter-joint coordination and sequencing between elite and recreational ice hockey players during slap shots. Sports Eng 26, 46 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12283-023-00441-5

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