THE EFFECT OF ISOMETRIC HIP ADDUCTORS FORCE ON CHANGE OF DIRECTION SPEED OF PROFESSIONAL ICE-HOCKEY PLAYERS

Introduction: Ice-hockey is a sport that requires high acceleration of players for optimal performance. The speed of sports players is influenced by several factors. The aim of research was to determine the effect of the isometric muscle strength of hip adductors on speed with directional changes in ice-hockey players. Methods: The sample consisted of 15 members of the Slovakian national ice-hockey team, the average age was 27 years, the average height was 186.46 cm (SD +/- 5.04), the average body weight was 90.87 kg (SD +/- 5.91). Players completed a GroinBar Test of 60 degrees to determine the isometric force of the hip adductors. We used the 5-10-5 test to determine the speed with directional changes. The 5-10-5 shuttle consists of rapid directional changes in a linear plane. It is commonly used as an assessment in different sports. The 5-10-5 Shuttle Drill, also known as the Pro Agility Drill, is a great tool for working on your agility and short-distance explosiveness. Results: In the research sample consisted of professional hockey players was measured a low degree of correlation (r = 0.006) between isometric muscle strength of the hip adductors and the speed with the directional changes in the 5-10-5 test. The average ice-hockey player's adductors strength was 476.83 N (SD +/- 88.50) and the average time achieved in the 5-10-5 test was 4.984 s (SD +/- 0.15). We also found low degree of correlation between right adductor force and right side of 5-10-5 test (r = 0.047) as well as left adductor force and left side of 5-10-5 test (r = 0.067). Conclusion: Research shows a very low degree of correlation in ice-hockey players between the hip adductor strength in the GroinBar Test 60 degrees and the speed with the directional changes in the 5-10-5 test.