Respiratory and cardiovascular aspects of intermittent exercise with regard to ice hockey.

The purpose of this review paper was to analyze the cardiorespiratory demands involved in playing ice hockey. Heart rate (HR) monitoring, by radiotelemetry during actual game performance, has indicated near-maximal cardiorespiratory efforts for the 2 1/2 to 3 minute on-ice shifts. Analyses of the temporal characteristics of the game, and thus the intermittent exercise (IE) schedules involved were also utilized to elucidate the cardiorespiratory demands of the sport. Compared to continuous exercise, at the same average power output, IE performance represents greater demand on both the central circulation and oxidative metabolism in the muscle cell. In IE, of time and intensity components typical of those found in ice hockey, laboratory data, compared to continuous exercise, showed a higher cardiac output, yet widened arterio-venous oxygen difference in the active muscles compensating for a lower muscle blood flow. Further, the literature suggested a reduced efficiency of the thermoregulatory system in IE, placing added demand on the cardiorespiratory system. The analysis suggests that training programs to increase aerobic power would be beneficial for ice hockey players.