Hockey skater with visible force vectors illustrating arm swing impact.

Unlock Your Hockey Speed: The Arm Swing Secret Every Skater Should Know

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how a simple adjustment to your arm swing can dramatically impact your ground reaction forces and skating performance."

In hockey, the power you generate isn't just about your legs. Arm movements play a vital role in translating effort into speed and agility on the ice. How you swing your arms can significantly affect the force you produce with each stride and, ultimately, your skating velocity.

For years, coaches have debated the merits of different arm swing techniques, yet solid scientific evidence has been lacking. The core question: Does the direction of your arm swing truly matter, and can it give you a competitive edge?

This article dives into groundbreaking research comparing two distinct arm swing styles used in hockey skating. You'll discover how each technique influences ground reaction forces (GRFs), which are crucial for propelling yourself across the ice. Prepare to rethink everything you know about skating mechanics!

Anterior vs. Mediolateral Arm Swing : Decoding the Difference

Hockey skater with visible force vectors illustrating arm swing impact.

The study closely examined two popular arm swing techniques: the anteroposterior (forward-backward) and the mediolateral (side-to-side). Researchers recruited twenty-four elite-level female hockey players to perform both techniques while standing on a specialized force platform. This setup allowed for precise measurement of the ground reaction forces produced during each swing.

The mediolateral arm swing involves glenohumeral flexion and adduction during the forward movement, and extension and abduction during the backward movement. Kinematic analysis confirmed that mediolateral arm swing produced 37% greater frontal plane and 33% less sagittal plane GRFs than the anteroposterior arm swing. The angle of force was also significantly different, more closely mimicking the direction of force in a skating stride.

Anteroposterior (Forward-Backward): Primarily involves movement in the sagittal plane, characterized by glenohumeral flexion and extension. This is the style most often seen in running.
Mediolateral (Side-to-Side): Combines movements in both the frontal and sagittal planes, involving glenohumeral flexion, adduction, extension, and abduction. Seen more in speed skating.

While the magnitude of the resultant GRFs wasn't significantly different, the mediolateral technique resulted in a GRF angle that was significantly larger relative to the direction of travel. This suggests that the side-to-side swing more closely aligns with the leg's propulsive force during skating.

Skate Smarter, Not Harder: Optimizing Your Technique

This research highlights the importance of aligning your arm swing with your leg's propulsive action. The mediolateral arm swing, with its side-to-side motion, appears to generate forces that better complement the skater's natural stride, potentially leading to greater efficiency and speed.

While more study is needed to determine if these findings translate to improvements for all, ice hockey players should perform mediolateral arm swing to maximize the effective GRFs produced with each stride, producing a higher impulse and skater velocity with each full skating stride.

By understanding the biomechanics of arm swing, you can fine-tune your technique and unlock your full potential on the ice. It's about working smarter, not just harder, to achieve peak performance.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1080/17461391.2017.1357757, Alternate LINK

Title: Ground Reaction Forces Produced By Two Different Hockey Skating Arm Swing Techniques

Subject: Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Journal: European Journal of Sport Science

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Julie Hayward-Ellis, Marion J. L. Alexander, Cheryl M. Glazebrook, Jeff Leiter

Published: 2017-08-17

Everything You Need To Know

What are the main types of arm swing techniques discussed?

The article discusses two primary arm swing techniques: the **anteroposterior** and the **mediolateral** arm swings. The **anteroposterior** arm swing involves forward and backward movements primarily in the sagittal plane, while the **mediolateral** arm swing incorporates movements in both the frontal and sagittal planes, meaning it goes side-to-side. Understanding these differences is key to optimizing skating performance.

Why is the mediolateral arm swing considered important in the context of skating?

The **mediolateral** arm swing is significant because it aligns better with the skater's natural stride, potentially leading to greater efficiency and speed. This technique generates forces that complement the leg's propulsive action more effectively than the **anteroposterior** arm swing. The study revealed that the angle of force produced by the **mediolateral** swing more closely mimics the direction of force in a skating stride, offering a competitive edge.

What are the implications of using different arm swing techniques on skating performance?

The implications of arm swing techniques on skating performance are substantial. The choice of arm swing can significantly affect ground reaction forces (GRFs), which are crucial for propelling oneself across the ice. The **mediolateral** arm swing, which generates a GRF angle closer to the direction of travel, can lead to improved skating velocity and agility. The **anteroposterior** arm swing, while not producing different GRF magnitudes, is less aligned with the skating stride.

What are ground reaction forces (GRFs), and why are they important?

Ground reaction forces (GRFs) are the forces exerted by the ground on a body in contact with it. In skating, these forces are critical for generating propulsion and speed. The study measured GRFs to compare the effectiveness of the **anteroposterior** and **mediolateral** arm swing techniques. Understanding how each technique influences GRFs helps in optimizing skating mechanics for better performance.

How does the anteroposterior arm swing differ from the mediolateral arm swing?

The **anteroposterior** arm swing primarily moves forward and backward in the sagittal plane, much like a runner's arm movement. It involves glenohumeral flexion and extension. This arm swing technique is less efficient for skating because it doesn't align with the skating stride as effectively as the **mediolateral** arm swing, potentially leading to a less effective use of force during each stride.