The skating treadmill has become a much more mainstream off-ice training tool in the last 10 years, with players of all ages and ability levels using the technology to enhance their skating technique and hockey conditioning.

I have to admit…I have been a ‘treadmill skeptic’ for the last decade.

I used the skating treadmill for training back when I was in high school. Back then, it was actually just a wider version of your standard running treadmill. In fact, I didn’t even wear my skates on it – I had to wear rollerblades!

The main reason for my skepticism is that the machine and programs I used as a young player actually hurt me more than they helped me! After every training session on the treadmill, I was exhausted and sore. I sustained more injuries on that treadmill than I ever did on the ice.

So I decided to ask the world’s foremost expert on the skating treadmill about how this technology can be used safely and effectively to help aspiring girls hockey players reach their next level of performance.

This afternoon I had a terrific conversation with Dr. Kelly Lockwood of The Skating Lab and she answered every question I have ever had about the treadmill (and more that I never even thought to ask!)

Dr. Lockwood has spent the last 15 years researching the best practices in athlete development – specifically in treadmill training. I figured that if anyone could resolve my ‘treadmill skepticism’, it would be her!

“Only As Good As The User”

As with most training tools, the treadmill is only truly effective when used properly. Back when I used the treadmill, we sometimes stayed on the machine for 5 minutes at time! In retrospect, this seems particularly ridiculous given the fact that the average hockey shift is approximately 45 seconds in length. Dr. Lockwood reinforced this fact by explaining how players should be skating the treadmill in ‘shifts’ – focusing on giving maximal efforts for 5-50 seconds at a time…not slogging away for 5 minutes!

Workouts on the skating treadmill are meant to be challenging. It is IMPOSSIBLE to sustain the level of technique and intensity needed to get a great transfer effect back over to the ice for 5 minutes straight! I now wish Dr. Lockwood was at the controls 10 years ago when I was suffering on those prolonged and painful skating sessions.

“Not a Cookie Cutter Program”

My other big concern with the skating treadmill is that following the ‘best practices’ determined through years of research and testing would result in the treadmill technicians trying to get every player to skate exactly the same way.

We all know that there are certain skating techniques that are better than others. And while the application of these techniques isn’t universal, the principles behind them are. Watching any elite hockey game will show you that there are a variety of different skating styles that all seem to be equally efficient. The key in the treadmill training is to make adjustments to the stride of the player that allows them to as efficient as possible with their own style.

All in all, the skating treadmill is a great supplement to on-ice training when applied properly. Dr. Lockwood told me a few stories of players whose performance was dramatically enhanced after training on the treadmill.

After my 10 year hiatus from the treadmill, I am ready to give it another try.

As long as there are no rollerblades involved!

Until next time,

Kim