Bracko, M. R., & Fellingham, G. W. (2004). Effect of a season of play on lactate response in Canadian female university hockey players. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(5), Supplement abstract 1438.

The lactate response of female ice-hockey players has not been investigated in female ice-hockey players. Lactate production and clearance is important in ice-hockey where an on-ice shift can last 45 - 90 seconds of high intensity work, followed by 2 - 6 minutes of passive recovery. Understanding lactate response over a season of play can help coaches, physiologists, and players' design training programs to enhance performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate blood lactate production and recovery, over a season of play, of Canadian female university hockey players (N = 18). A modified repeat sprint skate test was used pre-, mid-, and post-season to elicit lactate production. Post-test finger blood lactate was taken within one minute of completion of the skate test. Recovery lactate was determined following 5 - 6 minutes of passive recovery.

At each time, recovery lactates were significantly lower than post-skate-test lactates Post-skate-test lactate production and lactate recovery did not change from pre-, mid-, to post-season. The difference between post-test and recovery lactate stayed the same for all testing sessions.

Implication. The lactate response in high-level female hockey players did not change over a season of play.

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