Figure Skating
THE IMPORTANCE OF OFF-ICE CONDITIONING FOR FIGURE SKATERS
Over the years, off-ice conditioning has become a more important role in a figure skaters life. Today, skaters are performing more technical jumps, spins, and other more demanding elements on-ice. Given these demands, the need for off-ice strength and conditioning training has increased. Skaters are competing more throughout the year and skating more frequently week to week. This increased demand on the body means that skaters now have to be strong and well conditioned. On top of this, skaters are now attempting many of these technical skills on-ice, very frequently, and doing so at a young age with immature bodies. These immature bodies are at a serious risk of musculoskeletal injuries, maybe not right away, but later in their skating careers.
SST has come up with an off-ice package that is quite unique for all skaters. Sports Specific Training assures top RESULTS with our program as ultimately every coach in any sport including figure skating is accountable for this. In addition to RESULTS, SST’s programs are designed to limit injuries now and in the future. How do we accomplish this at Sports Specific Training:
1. Each skater has a thorough assessment enabling SST coaches to identify imbalances and weaknesses
2. Each skater will have individualized training programs CUSTOMIZED for their body imbalances and weaknesses
3. Each athlete will be supervised by the TOP STRENGTH COACHES in North America!
4. All of SST’s coaches are Certified, Insured and have completed a 90 hour internship under SST
5. Each athlete will have a Plyometric and core program to follow at home
6. Each athlete( dependent upon the training cycle) will have their own energy system training protocol to follow as well
7. Each athlete with have their own BLUEPRINT nutritional protocol based upon their body composition
SHOULD SKATERS STRENGTH TRAIN?
This is one of the most common questions asked by parents of children involved in any sport.
Despite the large misconception out there, leading experts and professional organizations have accepted the fact that strength training is not only safe, but extremely effective for youth.
Gradually strengthening bones, joints, and muscular support with the appropriate weight may help reduce the chance of injury due to the repetitive impact a child gets with a sport like figure skating. Every time a skater lands on ice after a jump the forces equal up to 8 to10 times their own bodyweight!
A parent needs only to watch their young child perform a jump, watch them spin, or see them “shoot the duck” to ask themselves, “If my child was stronger, would they be able to perform these moves easier and be less likely to injure themselves?”
The U.S. Figure skating association has identified Competitive Figure skating statistics on injuries as follows:
- 34% of skaters experience back pain and weaknesses
- 26% of al injuries are a result of knee tracking problems and alignments
- 23% of all injuries occur to strains and sprains of the ankle, hip and groin region
- 20% of al skaters suffer form ankle and foot tendonitis
- Peroneal muscles weaken leading to ankle sprains due to the amount of time spent in a figure skating boot. This is similar to an athlete being in a cast for an extended period of time!
- The most chronic injury for female skaters is…stress fractures- 19.9% of all female skaters in their lifetime have some sort of stress fracture
There is one thing that could eliminate and /or prevent most of these injuries…SUPERIVISED STRENGTH training!
What are some of the benefits of off-ice conditioning?
a) Improved flexibility, strength, power and endurance
b) Decreased risk of injury
c) Improved cardiovascular conditioning for short and long program
d) Increased speed of jumps
e) Increased stroking speed and power
f) Increased jumping height
g) Increased rotation speed
h) Improved strength to land jumps
i) Improved strength to hold spin positions
j) Improved posture and body positioning on the ice
Please contact us at sst@sstcanada.com to register!
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