Internal Physiological Load Measured Using Training Impulse in Varsity Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Players Between Game Periods

Abstract

Bigg, JL, Gamble, ASD, and Spriet, LL. Internal physiological load measured using training impulse in varsity men's and women's ice hockey players between game periods. J Strength Cond Res 35(10): 2824-2832, 2021-This study quantified internal load in male and female ice hockey players throughout a season, with comparisons between game periods and match outcome. Twenty-seven male and 24 female varsity ice hockey players participated in this longitudinal prospective cohort study monitoring internal load, using Banister's training impulse (TRIMP). Data were assessed according to game periods, match outcome (win or loss), and games played in noncongested (1 game/wk) or congested (2 + games/wk) weeks. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. The TRIMP for period 1 for both male (25 ± 16 arbitrary units [AU]) and female (23 ± 19 AU) players was significantly lower than period 3 (males: 30 ± 21 AU; p = 0.001; females: 29 ± 21 AU; p = 0.003) but not period 2 (males: 27 ± 17 AU; p = 0.183; females: 27 ± 19 AU; p = 0.681). There were no differences in TRIMP within any period between games resulting in a win compared with a loss. Overall, there were no differences in TRIMP between male and female players. However, when stratified by position, male forwards experienced greater TRIMP than female forwards (p < 0.001 for all periods), whereas female defense had greater TRIMP than male defense (p ≤ 0.032 for all periods). There were no differences between noncongested and congested week games and no differences in TRIMP between nonback-to-back and back-to-back games, or the first and second games played of a back-to-back series. This study measured physiological demand throughout the periods of ice hockey games in men and women and concluded that internal load was highest in the third period. Understanding the demands throughout a game can provide information to coaches and players that would be useful in managing fatigue and optimizing physical performance.