Sports Medicine: Just the Facts

DISCIPLINES

• Singles Skaterscombine the highest level of athleti-
  cism and artistry. These skaters complete multirevolu-
  tion jumps and spins with rapid footwork sequences,
  spiral sequences, and connecting moves.


• Pairs Skatersskate as a traditional couple, performing
  not only multirevolution jumps and spins, but also
  numerous high-risk maneuvers such as throw jumps
  and overhead lifts.


• Ice Dancersskate as a traditional couple, concentrat-
  ing on speed, body lean, edges, and precise technique.
  The rules of the sport limit jumps, spins, and lifts, and
  partner separations.


• Synchronized Skating is currently the fastest-growing
  discipline in figure skating and teams are typically
  composed of 20 female skaters.

COMPETITION

• In the United States, the competition levels for men and
  women are preliminary, prejuvenile, juvenile, interme-
  diate, novice, junior, senior, and adult. Participation in
  each level is generally determined not by age, but by
  accomplishment of the specific skill tests.
  •In competition, singles, pairs, and, synchronized
  skaters perform two programs, the lengths of which
  are dictated by level:
  
  
  1. The short programvaries in length with competi-
     tion level, but not as a function of gender. Senior
     competitors perform required elements to music
     that cannot exceed 2 min and 40 s in length.
  
  
  2. The long programis performed to music that for
     senior skaters cannot exceed 4 min and 30 s and is
     generally more difficult.
  
  
  
  


• Ice dancers perform three programs in competition:
  one compulsory dance; an original dance that is no
  longer than 2 min; and a free dance which can be as
  long as 4 min.

SPORT SCIENCE

ATHLETE ATTRIBUTES

PHYSICAL

• Figure skaters are generally shorter, lighter, and leaner
  than average (Zeigler et al, 1998). Most figure skaters
  are right-leg dominant, rotate counter-clockwise and
  land on their right leg.

PHYSIOLOGY
•Physiologic testing, including VO2max, flexibility, ver-
tical jump, body composition, strength, and power

evaluations, is useful in planning and monitoring

training programs (Zeigler et al, 1998). Off-ice train-

ing and periodization of training are necessary in

order to optimize these elements (Zeigler et al, 1998).

While performing a program, a figure skater will

reach 90–100% of their maximal heart rate within

30–60 s and then sustain that level of intensity for the

duration of the program. Figure skating can be com-

pared to tennis with regard to the necessity of a well-

developed anaerobic and aerobic energy system. The

effort required for a long program in figure skating

can be compared to running a 4-min mi.

NUTRITION

• Skaters, particularly female figure skaters, eat with
  the goal of achieving or maintaining the lean athletic
  body type demanded by the sport. Female pair skaters
  must be lightweight for successful completion of lifts
  and throw jumps. Female ice dancers are judged on an
  aesthetically pleasing body line and are typically very
  thin at higher levels of competition.


• The most common issues encountered are inadequate
  caloric intake and hydration, as well as inappropriate
  food choices. More than 1/2to 2/3of female figure
  skaters reported dieting to lose weight (Zeigler et al,
  1998). It has been shown that despite relatively low
  caloric intakes, biochemical measures of overall nutri-
  tional status appear to be normal (Zeigler et al, 1998).


• Intake of some micronutrients, including vitamin D
  and calcium, which affect bone health, is considerably
  lower than those observed in the general adolescent
  population (Ziegler et al, 1998; Zeigler, Jonnala-gadda,
  and Lawrence, 2001).

BONEMASS

• Figure skaters’ bone mineral density of the spine and
  lower extremities has been shown to be significantly
  higher than in nonskaters, suggesting that intense
  weight-bearing exercise may protect bone mass,
  despite inadequate nutritional intake (Slemendra and
  Johnson, 1993).

PSYCHOLOGY

• More than 85% of the most successful elite skaters are
  using sports psychology techniques year-round;
  almost every elite athlete in the United States uses
  visualization and imagery.


• The abilities to concentrate and refocus are positive
  predictors of how well athletes will perform. Negative
  thinking and lack of emotional control are significant
  issues.


• The relationship of the skater, parent, and coach is a
  very close one, and the treating physician must com-
  municate with each to optimize treatment compliance

486 SECTION 6 • SPORTS-SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS