Author(s): BARTLOME, A., THOM, S., ROZJIN, J., WIEWELHOVE, T., Institution: IST, UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES, DUESSELDORF, GERMANY, Country: SWITZERLAND, Abstract-ID: 959

INTRODUCTION:
Skating speed is a key performance determinant in ice hockey. While previous research has linked greater joint ranges of motion to enhanced skating efficiency, the specific role of active hip mobility in linear on-ice sprinting remains empirically underexplored.
METHODS:
This study investigated the relationship between active hip range of motion (AROM), assessed under standardized off-ice conditions, and linear on-ice sprint performance in 23 elite male U20 players (age: 17.4 ± 1.2 years). AROM was bilaterally measured using a test battery with a digital goniometer for hip flexion, abduction, internal rotation, external rotation, and extension. Players completed standardized 30 m on-ice sprints with split times recorded at 5 m. Pearson correlation and linear regression analyses were conducted.
RESULTS:
No significant correlations were found between absolute AROM values across all movements and sprint performance. However, hip external rotation asymmetry showed a highly significant positive correlation with 30 m sprint time (r = .69, p < .001), as well as moderate correlations with 5 m sprint time (r = .42, p = .045) and the 5–30 m split (r = .58, p = .004). Regression analysis revealed that external rotation asymmetry accounted for 48% of the variance in 30 m sprint performance.
CONCLUSION:
Isolated active hip mobility is not a reliable predictor of skating speed. However, asymmetries – particularly in hip external rotation – negatively affect on-ice sprint performance. These findings highlight the importance of asymmetry-oriented screening in performance diagnostics for ice hockey players and suggest that addressing functional imbalances may be crucial for optimizing skating performance. The presented test battery provides a practical tool for this purpose.