Sport Biomechanics Analysis Project

EPHE 578
Hockey Skating Stride
By: Phillip Barski
For: Mark Klimstra
Video Capture: Mark you were there, its in Kinovea if you need it. Please
let me know if youd like to see it (I think its in my folder), I didnt know how
to include it.
Description of expert Performance
The hockey stride can be broken down into 3 phases which include;
1. Take-off or start-First 3 steps
2. Stride phase (2nd gear)
3. Final phase (3rd gear)
1. Take-Off or Start-First 3 steps
The essential elements of an effective hockey start begin with proper
posture. The skater will want to have their head straight, their shoulders
loose, their knees bent (at the shank angle), overtop the tops of their
toes, and their feet pointed at a 45 angle (in hockey we call this the v
start.) On take-off the player will have to dig or cut into the ice as
powerfully as they can, exerting as much force as possible down into the
ice through the center of their feet(s). All elite skaters will have deep
knee bends which will enable them to exert maximum force into the ice.
They will extend their arms in both abducting and adducting motion in
order to create maximum momentum.
2. Stride phase (2nd gear)
All of the aforementioned above remain the same; except with regards to
stride length. When transitioning from the take-off phase to the stride
phase, a greater emphasis is placed on stride length. In the Stride phase,
ensuring that the knee of the Glide leg (weight acceptance) is in front or at
the very least parallel with the top of the foot (shank angle) is optimal (at
approximately 90). On full extension of the stride it is imperative for the
player to fire the toe (plantar flexion) as the toe is the final part of the body
to create additional power before switching legs (and repeating the same
steps). In the stride phase we want to also focus on the upper body and
specifically the arm swing(s). As all hockey players skate with one hand on
their stick, the arm that holds the stick is limited with its movement as the
stick must always stay on the ice can still create momentum but is limited,

the other arm (or the swing arm) can create additional momentum, which
will enable the player to create more power and speed.

3. Final phase (3rd gear)

Only the best skaters in the world have a third gear on their stride all the
aforementioned above are all in play and all in harmony staying low in their
stance over a longer distance allowing the skater to reach maximum speeds.

Sequence of Images

1. Activation of Propulsion Phase

.
2. Propulsion Phase

3. Full extension

4.Stride Return

5.Glide Phase

6.Activation of propulsion phase

.
7.Propulsion Phase

.
8.Full extension

Qualitative Anatomical Analysis

Joint

Frame
s

Joint Motion

Muscle
Contraction

Active Muscle
Group

Rapid
acceleration
/ impact

Extreme
Range of
Motion

right hip

right
knee

right
ankle

right
shoulder

1-2

extension

concentric/eccent
ric

extensors/flexor
s

2-3

flexion

concentric

flexors

3-4

flexion

concentric

flexors

4-5

flexion

concentric

flexors

5-6

flexion

6-7

flexion

concentric
concentric/eccent
ric

7-8

no motion

isometric

flexors
flexors/extensor
s
flexors/extensor
s

1-2

extension

concentric/eccent
ric

extensors/flexor
s

2-3

flexion

concentric

flexors

3-4

flexion

concentric

flexors

4-5

flexion

concentric

flexors

5-6

flexion

6-7

flexion

7-8

no motion

concentric
concentric/eccent
ric
concentric/eccent
ric

flexors
flexors/extensor
s
flexors/extensor
s

1-2

extension

concentric/eccent
ric

extensors/flexor
s

2-3

flexion

concentric

flexors

3-4

flexion

concentric

flexors

4-5

flexion

concentric

flexors

5-6

flexion

concentric

flexors

6-7

flexion

concentric

7-8

no motion

1-2

yes

fully extend

yes

flexed
flexed

yes

fully extend

yes

flexed

yes

flexed

yes

fully extend

flexors

yes

flexed

concentric

flexors

yes

flexed

flexion

concentric/eccent
ric

flexors/extensor
s

2-3

extension

eccentric

extensors

3-4

extension

eccentric

extensors

4-5

extension

eccentric

extensors

5-6

extension

6-7

extension
hyperextensio
n

eccentric
eccentric/concent
ric
eccentric/concent
ric

extensors
extensors/flexor
s
extensors/flexor
s

7-8

Free Body Diagrams

flexed

fully extend
fully extend

Expert above

Novice above
Mechanical Explanation
With regards to evaluating the skating stride, its important to consider
all three planes; the mid-sagittal plane, the transverse plane, and the frontal
plane (taking into consideration the views of both the front and back
movement(s). When viewing players from the mid-sagittal plane were able to
distinguish between what the left and right sides of the body are doing. In
our videos we will be looking at the mid-sagittal plane as well as the frontal
planes (both forward and backward movements). For the purpose of the
skating stride we will focus our attention along both the Z and Y axis; the Zaxis- the distance along this axis is a measure of up and down, and the Y-axis
the intersection of the front and transverse planes which will allow us to
study the relationship between; what the lower limbs are doing comparative
to the upper limbs.
The five main aspects of the hockey stride we will focus on are; the
propulsion phase, glide phase, the upper body extremities; take-off start, and
impulse.
1. Propulsion Phase
The propulsion phase of the hockey stride will determine the power and
speed at which the player can skate at. Other contributing factors include;

strength and balance of the player, the muscle mass and size of the player
and the degree of skill level that the individual possesses.
When we start discussing Vectors, with regards to the propulsion phase
there are three points of emphasis. One, the amount of force generated by
the skate (the force down into the ice at a 45 degree angle) will determine
the power generated of the stride. The second point of emphasis is on the
extension of the propulsion leg, the longer the stride (the longer the skate
can cut through the ice) the more power will be generated. The final force
impact of the propulsion phase occurs at the ankle or more specifically the
firing of the toe (this is the last time the blade contacts the ice). These three
force vectors and movement vectors are the only points at which force is
generated during the propulsion phase. When were referring to force vectors
we want to discuss the magnitude, the direction, the line of action and the
point of application.
1. The magnitude is the line generated by the extension of the stride
2. The direction- is the direction in which the stride is heading towards,
ideally at a 45 angle back and to the side of the extension side
3. Line of action-the line the stride extends back.
4. Point of application- is the skate blade hitting the ice.
For a moment lets discus the force-motion principle with regards to the
skating stride; when the propulsion leg fully extends and fires the toe
(plantar flexion) the skater cannot extend the other (or glide leg) leg until
that propulsion stride has returned to starting position.

2. Upper Body Extremities

When we focus our attention to the upper body limbs during
the skating stride we look at the rotation of the shoulders, elbows
and arms. The shoulders are moving both to the anterior and the
posterior plane(s) in a flexing and extending motion equally
opposite of one another. It is important to note that every hockey
player has one hand on their stick and the other hand is their
swing arm. The shoulder and arms are also abducting and
adducting equally in opposite directions. With regards to the
elbow we want our hand that holds the hockey stick to be at
approximately 90 (zero value). The opposite arm will move in an
abducting and adducting motion, while the elbow will be at
90when adducting and 0 when fully extended in the posterior

plane. Unlike swimming, the arm movements can only create

momentum and must swing in tangent with the lower body limbs.

3. Take off-Start- first 3 steps

Lets begin at the top of the muscular skeleton; head must be aligned
horizontally and vertically straight. Eyes must be looking forward (level).
Shoulders must loose with one hand on your stick. Shoulders facing forward
and level. In the start (take off) we want to lower our center of gravity and
increase stability in order to do this we get lower to the ice, similar to a
sprinter we want to be just at the point where we might fall over with the
lowest possible center of gravity. In the hockey start we want our butt out
and our back almost perpendicular to the sky leaning forward to lower our
center of gravity. In other sports that may call this the ready position,
similar to a sprinter a hockey player has its optimal posture which allows
them to exert the great force at the start and through the center of gravity
Hips pointing out which will allow your knees to be pointing out at a 45
angle. Knees overtop the tops of your toes and your skates together with
your feet pointing at a 45 angle. The weight should be on the balls of your
feet (not on your heals, and not on your toes), with your feet making a v
shape. The main idea behind the start is to accelerate as quickly as possible;
in order to accomplish this one must take 3 hard strides focusing on exerting
as much force into the ice with each stride and using their arms to create
momentum moving forward. In order to increase acceleration the skater
must increase velocity which is dependent on physical strength and proper
technique.
4. Impulse
Impulse is the measure of the amount of time a force is applied, with
regards to the skating stride we are referring to three aspects of the stride,
one the amount of time the stride leg (trail leg) can remain on the ice. Two,
the amount of time or force the toe can exert down in the ice when firing.
And last when the trail leg becomes the lead leg (weight barring leg) how
much force can that leg exert into the ice. If we look at Newtons 3rd law if
object A exerts a force on another object B. The other object B exerts the
same force on the first object a but in the opposite direction. The predictive
equations related to horizontal impulse included six parameters: knee angle
at push-off and touchdown, take-off angle (blade-to-ice) at push-off, hip
abduction angle at push-off, range of motion of forward lean angle, and
player mass. It is unknown to what extent the amount and rate of hip

internal and external rotation, as well as hip abduction and adduction, occur
during blade contact and push-off. Pearsall, Turcotte, and Murphy, 2000
5. Glide leg
The glide leg is extremely important when assessing an individuals ability
to skate and perform the stride. The glide leg or the (support phase) is
what keeps the body in balance during the propulsion phase. And is the
only other point of a skaters body that interacts with the ice. The glide
leg becomes the stride leg when the stride leg returns over the skaters
center of gravity. Its important that the glide leg be bent at 90 or more
in order to create maximum force down into the ice. This will enable the
skater to maximize their length and power during their propulsion phase.
Bending their knees also lowers their center of gravity, creating more
opportunity to generate power.
Kinematics of forward skating would describe the linear and angular motions
of the body during a stride. A skating stride is biphasic and consists of
support and swing phases. The support phase can be further divided into
single and double support (18% and 82% of support phase respectively)
(Marino, 198311. Marino, G. W. 1983. Selected mechanical factors
associated with acceleration in ice skating. Research Quarterly for Exercise
and Sport, 54: 234238.
++Deterministic Model sent in 2nd attachment
Observation/Evaluation/Diagnosis
When we examine both the free body diagrams and the videos of both the
frontal and sagitall planes we clearly see that the expert skater is able to
create more force into the ice by keeping their lead leg bent at a lower
degree. That lead leg knee bend is crucial in creating power down into the
ice which will enable the propulsion phase to stride out further. With the
novice skater the bend in the knee is 104 compared to the expert skaters
84. The next point of emphasis is the trail leg or the stride leg. This leg will
determine the length of the stride and with the expert skater; he is able to
lengthen his stride longer, allowing him to keep his blade of his skate on the
ice for a longer period of time which enables to him to generate more power
through his stride. Comparatively the novice skater is unable to keep his
stride leg on the ice as long, which reduces his ability to create power. The
last point of emphasis regarding the lower body extremities is the ankle, or
more specifically the planter flexion. The expert skater is able to fire their
toe giving them that last final push off the ice before they begin to brong
their stride leg back to starting position. Conversely the novice skater isnt
able to generate the same amount of force.

The upper body extremities specifically the shoulders, elbows, and arms are
an important aspect for the skater to create momentum. When we look at
the expert skater versus the novice skater we see that the shoulders are
more in line with each other and the swing arm(the arm that doesnt hold the
stick) is able to extend to 0 this allows the skater to generate greater range
of motion leading to more momentum created. The novice player extends
their swing arm almost to the side, negating any potential momentum
increases leading to any speed improvements or efficiencies.
If we were to rank the errors in order of priority we would begin with the lead
leg and correcting the knee bend (shank angle). The next improvement we
would want to make would be the length of the stride length and the power it
was able to generate. Finally we would focus the ankle or planter flexion
strength and technique. With regards to the upper body extremities they
would correct themselves if we fixed the lower body limbs.
The observational checklist (on the next page) can be used to evaluate a
players biomechanics during the skating stride. In order to effectively use it
one would have to use it in each phase of the skating stride.

Diagnosis of the Skating Stride Checklist

Head Position

Head level
Eyes looking forward
Shoulder Position
Level
Loose/relaxed
Swing Arm Position (elbow/hand positioning)
Abducting

Adducting
Arm Holding Stick (elbow/hand positioning)
Abducting
Adducting
Back/Torso Alignment (Center of Gravity)
Proper Angle
Glide Leg (Lead Leg)
Knee Positioning
Ankle positioning
Is the Player Firing the Toe
Stride Leg
Knee Positioning
Ankle positioning
Proper Weight Distribution Knee Positioning