Kineigration Action Off-Ice Sports Conditioning Programs

Kineigration Action Off-Ice Sports Conditioning Programs utilizing our Synthetic Ice Skating Treadmill with/ without the addition of any other sports conditioning products is an investment that should be complemented with a detailed off-ice conditioning program to ensure its success. KI'A Conditioning offers a number of programs to help you to use our Synthetic Ice Skating Treadmill to obtain more than optimal athlete and team success.

A KI'A ice hockey training program developes a combination of aerobic power, strength and muscle bulk, explosive speed and power as well as good anaerobic endurance. One thing is certain -- the game is certainly unique.

On average players perform for 15-20 minutes of a 60-minute game. A typical interval on the rink lasts 30-80 seconds with a 4-5 minute rest interval between shifts. These shifts tend to be anaerobic in nature with short, intense bouts of high speed skating and aggressive body contact, demanding a high level of anaerobic endurance and muscular strength. And a player's aerobic capacity and tolerance to lactic acid are related to a player's time on the ice and the number of scoring chances.

The intermittent nature of the game means that aerobic endurance becomes important, helping players to recover between shifts and produce the same level of performance in the 59th minute as in the 1st minute. Couple all this with the unnatural movement of skating and holding a stick and it becomes obvious why ice hockey is highly physically challenging.

Today's elite hockey players are physically bigger, faster and stronger than their predecessors. They are one of just a few groups of athletes that may benefit from hypertrophy training for increased muscle bulk.

However, while weight training is an integral part of the annual ice hockey training plan, it must be specific. Increased lean mass is not the only goal of strength training. Gains in maximal strength are only useful on the rink if they are converted into explosive power and power endurance. This takes a more refined approach than a typical bodybuilding routine.

As the intense physical contact in hockey exposes players to an increased risk of injury, conditioning also plays an important role here too. In the words of Wayne Gretsky... "For a better conditioned athlete there is less chance of injury, and conditioning promotes career longevity. The player also becomes mentally stronger, after enduring the intense efforts required for conditioning...".

By preparing the body adequately for competitive games, a well-designed ice hockey training program can help to prevent many of the chronic and acute injuries that are inherent in the sport.

Please read the following Articles which relate to hockey conditioning

• Off-Season Hockey conditioning program for a 18yr old potential NHL Forward