OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH

Dr. Lockwood's research highlights include:

• Founder and director of the On Ice Performance Laboratory at Brock University
• Studies at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and 2005 Summer Olympic Games
• Studies to assist in the engineering of sports equipment
• Research on the effects of blade sharpening on performance for the NHL
• Research with Sport Canada to investigate effective infrastructure to best support our athletes

TREADMILL RESEARCH

Since the early 1990's only a handful of researchers have scientifically investigated treadmill skating. The early studies conducted using skating treadmills focused primarily on physiological assessments of mature athletes (Nobes et al., 2003; Dreger and Quinney, 1999; Hinrich, 1994). Further studies conducted (Turcotte et al., 2004; Nobes et al., 2003; Dreger and Quinney, 1999) include physiological or biomechanical comparisons of treadmill to on ice skating. None of the above-mentioned studies addressed the question of training and the effectiveness of the treadmill as a training tool for hockey players.

Over the past five years, Dr. Lockwood has worked closely with treadmill companies to develop and validate training programs for all ages, abilities, and levels of play. Controlled, lab based studies have supported the use of the treadmill as a testing and training modality for hockey players.

After minimal exposure to Dr. Lockwood's proprietary training program:

• After eight exposures to treadmill skating, preschool aged participants (2-4 years) were able to take it to the ice. Age appropriate skating skills developed on the treadmill transferred to the ice.
• Atom A hockey players demonstrated an increase in stride length and a decrease in stride rate, ultimately performing at lower heart rates.
• AAA male hockey players showed increases in both foot speed and leg strength resulting in a 10% increase in explosive power after an eight-week session of training.
• After only eight sessions Junior A hockey players significantly increased their skating speed and reduced on-ice sprinting times.
• Integrated Degree of Separation (DOS) training or the combined effect of skating and stickhandling training on the skate treadmill revealed significant improvements in sport specific coordinated movements.
• The effect of an eight week skating treadmill training program on both dry land predictors and on ice measures of skating performance in minor league ice hockey players (n=109) confirmed complete translation of skills to the ice.