Citation

Gallo CA, Desrochers GN, Morris GJ, Rumney CD, Sandell SJ, McDevitt JK, Langford D, Rosene JM. J. Sports Sci. Med. 2022; 21(1): 68-73.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Uludag University, Turkey)

DOI

10.52082/jssm.2022.68

PMID

35250335

PMCID

PMC8851123

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess changes in cervical musculature throughout contact-heavy collegiate ice hockey practices during a regular season of NCAA Division III ice hockey teams. In this cross-sectional study, 36 (male n = 13; female n = 23) ice hockey players participated. Data were collected over 3 testing sessions (baseline; pre-practice; post-practice). Neck circumference, neck length, head-neck segment length, isometric strength and electromyography (EMG) activity for flexion and extension were assessed. Assessments were completed approximately 1h before a contact-heavy practice and 15 min after practice. For sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles, males had significantly greater peak force and greater time to peak force versus females. For both left and right SCMs, both sexes had significantly greater peak EMG activity pre-practice versus baseline, and right (dominant side) SCM time to peak EMG activity was decreased post-practice compared to pre-practice. There were no significant differences for EMG activity of the upper trapezius musculature, over time or between sexes. Sex differences observed in SCM force and activation patterns of the dominant side SCM may contribute to head stabilization during head impacts. Our study is the first investigation to report changes in cervical muscle strength in men's and women's ice hockey players in the practical setting.

Language: en

Keywords

sex differences; Ice hockey; neck strength; sternocleidomastoid