Carbohydrate Mouth-Rinsing Improves Overtime Physical Performance in Male Ice Hockey Players During On-Ice Scrimmages

Abstract

Purpose: This randomized, double-blind, crossover study examined the effects of mouth-rinsing (MR) with a carbohydrate (CHO) vs. a placebo (PLA) solution on external and internal loads in hydrated ice hockey players during regulation and overtime (OT) periods of an on-ice scrimmage.

Methods: Twelve skilled male hockey players (22.6 [3.4] years, 178.9 [4.7] cm, 84.0 [6.5] kg) played three 20-min regulation periods and one 12-min OT period of small-sided 3-on-3 scrimmage. Skaters repeated 2 min shift and rest intervals. Participants mouth rinsed with 25 mL of CHO or PLA solution approximately every 10 min for a total of 7 rinses. A local positioning system (LPS) tracked external load variables including speed, distance, acceleration, and deceleration. Internal load was monitored with heart rate (HR) sensors and a rating of perceived exertion (RPE).

Results: During regulation play, both the conditions developed similar fatigue, with significantly decreased high-intensity distance, average speed and decelerations, and increased RPE, from period 1 to 2 and 3. In OT, CHO MR increased the distance skated at high-intensity (224 [77], 185 [66] m, p = 0.042), peak speed (24.6 [1.6], 23.7 [1.3] km·h^-1, p = 0.016), number of sprints (1.9 [1.2], 1.2 [0.9], p = 0.011), and decreased distance skated at slow speed (300 [33], 336 [47], p = 0.034) vs. PLA MR. OT RPE was similar between the two conditions in spite of more work done in CHO MR.

Conclusions: CHO MR may be a valuable practice to protect against decrements in external load with increased playing time in ice hockey, and possibly allows athletes to perform more work relative to perceived levels of exertion.

Keywords: 3-on-3 scrimmage; external load; heart rate monitors; hydration; internal load; local positioning system; team sport.

Figure 1

Experimental trial timeline. Numbers are in minutes. MR, mouth-rinsing; RPE, rating of perceived exertion.

Figure 2

Schematic diagram outlining the ice-rink set up for small-sided 3-on-3 scrimmage and the location of one server and 16 anchors of an ultrawideband local positioning system (LPS; Kinexon, Munich, Germany) used to measure on-ice movements of skaters during scrimmage. Circles represent player rest/MR stations. MR, mouth-rinsing; P1, period one; P2, period two; P3, period three; OT, overtime.

Figure 3

Distance traveled by male high-level hockey players (n = 12) in (A) zone 1–very slow (1.0–10.9 km·h⁻¹), (B) zone 2–slow (11.0–13.9 km·h⁻¹), (C) zone 3–moderate (14.0–16.9 km·h⁻¹), (D) zone 4–fast (17.0–20.9 km·h⁻¹), (E) zone 5–very fast (21.0–24.0 km·h⁻¹), and (F) zone 6–sprint (>24.0 km·h⁻¹) speed zones when mouth-rinsing with carbohydrate (CHO) or placebo (PLA) solution during three 20-min regulation periods of small-sided 3-on-3 ice hockey scrimmage. Data are mean (SD). *Main effect of period, significantly lower than period 1. ^aSignificantly greater than period 1, same condition. ^bSignificantly lower than period 2, same condition. ^#Signifcantly greater than other MR condition, same period. Significance accepted at p ≤ 0.05.

Figure 4

Distance traveled by male high-level hockey players (n = 12) in zone 1–very slow (1.0–10.9 km·h⁻¹), zone 2–slow (11.0–13.9 km·h⁻¹), zone 3–moderate (14.0–16.9 km·h⁻¹), zone 4–fast (17.0–20.9 km·h⁻¹), zone 5–very fast (21.0–24.0 km·h⁻¹), and zone 6–sprint (>24.0 km·h⁻¹) speed zones when mouth-rinsing (MR) with carbohydrate (CHO) or placebo (PLA) solution during one 12-min overtime period of small-sided 3-on-3 ice hockey scrimmage. Data are mean (SD). ^#Signifcantly greater than other MR condition, same zone (p ≤ 0.05).

Figure 5

Distance traveled by male high-level hockey players (n = 12) at low-intensity (<17 km·h⁻¹) and high-intensity (≥17 km·h⁻¹) speeds when mouth-rinsing with carbohydrate (CHO) or placebo (PLA) solution during one 12-min overtime period of small-sided 3-on-3 ice hockey scrimmage. Data are mean (SD). ^#Signifcantly greater than other MR condition, same speed (p ≤ 0.05).

Figure 6

Peak and average speeds of male high-level hockey players when mouth-rinsing with carbohydrate (CHO) or placebo (PLA) solution during one 12-min overtime period of small-sided 3-on-3 ice hockey scrimmage. Data are mean (SD). ^#Signifcantly greater than other MR condition, same variable (p ≤ 0.05).