Acute effects of virtual-reality and dual-task warm-up on game-related speed paradigms in elite ice hockey athletes.

INTRODUCTION: Dual-task (DT) performance is a key component of game speed in ice hockey, where athletes must maintain high skating velocities while processing perceptual and cognitive information. Although DT training (DTT) and virtual reality training (VRT) are increasingly used in high-performance settings, little is known about their acute effects on DT speed performance and individual variability in responsiveness. Therefore, this study examined (1) the acute effects of DTT and VRT warm-up on DT tapping speed with two different cognitive conditions and (2) related performance outcome measurements derived from cognitive testing and on-ice speed diagnostics.

METHODS: Seventy-four elite youth ice hockey players (17.3 ± 1.7 years) from U18 female, U18 male, and U20 male squads completed a simple tapping task (ST) and two DT paradigms - tapping paired with either a speed-reading task (SR) or a Stroop task (STR). Using a randomized crossover pre-post design, all athletes performed both a 20-minute DTT intervention and a 20-minute VRT intervention. Individual responsiveness was determined using the smallest worthwhile change (SWC). Moderating variables included cognitive test scores and on-ice speed performance.

RESULTS: Both DTT and VRT yielded significant improvements in ST performance (p < .001). DTT produced a significant improvement of DT tapping frequency with SR (p < .001), whereas VRT caused a small decline (i.e., lower frequencies). Neither intervention improved STR, and VRT was associated with more decrements than benefits across DT conditions. SWC analyses revealed notable interindividual variability: most athletes showed no certain change, but a subset demonstrated clear improvements or decrements. Correlation analyses indicated that DTT-induced improvements in STR were moderately associated with several on-ice measures (ρ = .27-.39, p < .05). No consistently related performance outcome measurements emerged for VRT. VRT did not lead to improved performance in DT paradigms requiring linguistic processing or inhibitory control and even produced motor performance decrements in some athletes.

DISCUSSION: Our study suggests that DTT appears more effective than VRT in acutely supporting DT speed performance, particularly in SR. The heterogeneity in responsiveness underscores the need for individualized cognitive-motor warm-up strategies and highlights the limitations of group-level outcomes.