The relationship between age and fitness profiles in elite male ice hockey players

Kuvaus:

Background: The present study investigated relationships between age, body composition and performance in elite male ice hockey players. Methods: 199 players performed off-ice tests (countermovement jump height (CMJ) and body composition) and on-ice tests (5-10-5 Pro Agility test, 30-m sprint test and the maximal Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Ice Hockey test (Yo-Yo IR1-IH<inf>MAX</inf>) for assessment of aerobic capacity. Results: No overall correlations between age and performance were present except small-moderate positive associations between age and body- and muscle mass (r=0.24-0.30, P≤0.05). The youngest age group (YOU; 18-21 years) were 4-9% lighter than all other age groups and possessed 7% less muscle mass compared to the oldest players (OLD; 30-33 years) (P≤0.05), whereas no differences were present in body fat percentage. OLD were 2-3% inferior to the second youngest (SEC; 22-25 years) and mid-age group (MID; 26-29 years) in sprint and agility performance in addition to a 6-10% lower CMJ height (P≤0.05). The younger age groups differed only by a 7 and 5% better CMJ performance in MID compared to YOU and SEC, respectively (P≤0.05). In contrast, no differences were found in distance covered on the Yo-Yo IR1-IH<inf>max</inf>. Conclusions: Only small-moderate associations between age and body composition were present unlike for the remaining performance parameters.