2 research outputs found
The recovery of muscle function and glycogen levels following game-play in young elite male ice hockey players
Despite the frequent occurrence of congested game fixtures in elite ice hockey, the
postgame recovery pattern has not previously been investigated. The purpose of
the present study was therefore to evaluate the acute decrements and subsequent
recovery of skeletal muscle glycogen levels, muscle function and repeated-sprint
ability following ice hockey game-play. Sixteen male players from the Danish U20
national team completed a training game with muscle biopsies obtained before,
postgame and following ~38h of recovery (day 2). On-ice repeated-sprint ability
and muscle function (maximal voluntary isometric [MVIC] and electrically induced low- (20Hz) and high-frequency (50Hz) knee-extensor contractions) were
assessed at the same time points, as well as ~20h into recovery (day 1). Muscle
glycogen decreased 31% (p<0.001) postgame and had returned to pregame levels
on day 2. MVIC dropped 11%, whereas 50 and 20Hz torque dropped 21% and
29% postgame, respectively, inducing a 10% reduction in the 20/50Hz torque
ratio indicative of low-frequency force depression (all p<0.001). While MVIC
torque returned to baseline on day 1, 20 and 50Hz torque remained depressed by 9%–11% (p=0.010–0.040), hence restoring the pre-exercise 20/50Hz ratio.
Repeated-sprint ability was only marginally reduced by 1% postgame (p=0.041)
and fully recovered on day 1. In conclusion, an elite youth ice hockey game induces substantial reductions in muscle glycogen content and muscle function,
but only minor reductions in repeated-sprint ability and with complete recovery
of all parameters within 1–2days postgame