This study compared the plantar force distribution between forward ice hockey skating and treadmill skating. Four varsity hockey players from McGill University (age = 22.1 +/- 1.2 years, height = 1.8 +/- 0.1 m, mass = 82.2 +/- 8.6 kg) skated on ice surface and on a specialized treadmill at three velocities (22, 24 and 26 +/- 0.5 km/hr). Results showed higher plantar forces were seen during treadmill skating prior to push off and this discrepancy was due to consistently larger forces in the fore region of the foot. This phenomenon was speculated to be the result of differences in skate stability during ice and treadmill skating. With respect to the loading dynamics, the heel region was the same during ice and treadmill skating. |