Slideboard Conditioning


Slideboard Conditioning

The slideboard has been a popular training tool in the world of skating for a long time. At @bodybyboyle we utilize the slideboard with our hockey athletes as well as an alternative method of conditioning for our field sport athletes.

The slideboard is unique from other modes of conditioning in that it allows you to train in the frontal plane. The majority of conditioning methods like running, biking and sled are all sagittal plane dominant. The slideboard allows us to break up rigidity of sagittal plane dominant training as well as condition the athletes hips and adductors to the stressors that come with sports like hockey and soccer.

The repetitive eccentric/concentric stressors on the adductors makes the slideboard a unique mode for both injury reduction and energy system development. I’ll often use the slideboard with general population clients or linear-dominant athletes like runners who could benefit from some variability in their programming.

When programming the slideboard we typically program a lactic or glycolytic intervals. We often start with 15-20 seconds of work with complete rest and work up to 30-40 seconds of work with 1:1 work to rest ratio.