Abstract

Unique requirements of field hockey include dribbling the ball and moving quickly in a semicrouched posture. First, the net physiological strain due to dribbling was examined. Seven male hockey players completed a 5 min run on the treadmill at 8 km/h and 10 km/h: subjects also ran at these speeds whilst dribbling a hockey ball. Dribbling increased energy expenditure by 15-16 kj/min above that observed in normal running. Heart rates and perceived exertion were also increased. The posture in dribbling is likely to cause back ache among players: 53 of respondents (n = 81) reported experience of lower back pain. Finally, the shrinkage of spinal length during dribbling was examined. Subjects (n = 7) ran for 7 min on the treadmill whilst dribbling a ball. Shrinkage occurred at a rate of 0.4 mm min, which is greater than previously reported for other activities. The peculiar postural requirements of field hockey seem to cause physiological strain and spinal loading in excess of orthodox motion. Verf.-Referat