Figure skaters are generally shorter, lighter, and leaner than average (11,12). At the most elite levels, shortness, leanness, and linearity of physique are particularly noted in the female ice dancers and pair skaters. Most figure skaters are right-leg dominant, rotate counter-clockwise, and land on their right leg.

Physiologic testing, including [V with dot above]O_2max, flexibility, vertical jump, body composition, strength, and power evaluations, are useful in planning and monitoring training programs. Off-ice training and periodization of training are necessary in order to optimize these elements. While performing a program, a figure skater will reach 90%-100% of their maximal heart rate within 30-60 seconds and then sustain that level of intensity for the duration of the program. Figure skating can be compared 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-minute mile. The increasing complexity of the technical elements being performed in all disciplines of skating is approaching the acrobatics of gymnastics.

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 increasingly complex lifts and throw jumps. Female ice dancers are judged on an aesthetically pleasing body line, particularly at higher levels of competition.

The most common dietary issues encountered are inadequate caloric intake and hydration, as well as suboptimal food choices and poor timing of nutrition (25,26).

Total energy intake and intake of dietary fiber and fat (females) are often below dietary recommendations.

Intake of some micronutrients, including vitamin D, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, folate, pantothenic acid, phosphorous, and calcium, in females was shown to be less than two-thirds of the recommended daily allowance (6).

Approximately 50% of elite figure skaters use dietary supplements, with multivitamins being the most commonly consumed supplement (27).

Prepubertal 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 in younger athletes, despite inadequate nutritional intake (19).

Postmenarchal skaters with a history of stress fracture do not typically have lower bone mineral density as compared to nonathletic controls but do have significantly lower bone mineral density compared to skaters without fractures (14).

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 communicate with each to optimize treatment compliance and outcome. Addressing the psychological impact of an injury is very important to the recovery process.

As a team sport, team dynamics and team building in synchronized skating are integral to success and must be included in training programs.

Shoulder abductor strength and knee extensor strength are two main predictors of jump height (16). An athlete’s upper body strength and consequent ability to pull arms against centrifugal forces, attaining a tight air position, when initiating jump rotation are correlated positively with the athlete’s ability to perform the more difficult jumps.

To perform the increasingly difficult triple and quadruple jumps, the athletes are rotating faster, not necessarily jumping higher (7). Flight times for single, double, and triple jumps are very similar due to nearly identical vertical velocity at takeoffs (7). However, athletes who have mastered higher revolution jumps, such as triple and quadruple jumps, generate greater vertical velocity at takeoff of lower revolution jumps (9).

Impact forces are greater on landing higher revolution jumps as a result of delayed landing and the need for the athlete to forcefully extend his or her landing leg toward the ice from a shorter distance (9).

It is important to be aware that spinning typically requires a greater energy expenditure than jumping. The athlete rotates three to six revolutions per second, creating 200-300 pounds of centrifugal force (13), and when the athlete changes position during the spin, these forces can go up. Upper body,
lower body, and core strength are all required to keep the arms and legs close to the axis of rotation to counteract the centrifugal force.

Pair skaters and ice dancers and, to a lesser degree, synchronized skaters are continuing to push technical boundaries and are increasingly performing more complex, creative, and acrobatic elements.

To perform the increasingly difficult throw double and triple twists, similar to triple and quadruple jumps, the pair teams use primarily increased rotational rates and, to a lesser degree, increased flight time due to delayed or lower catches (8).