Stability of Hand Grip Strength Across a Competitive Season in Elite Male and Female Ice Hockey Players

NCT07570784 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: EPM will be added later.
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 150
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study examines how hand grip strength changes over the course of a competitive ice hockey season in elite male and female players. Hand grip strength is a simple and widely used measure of upper-body strength and functional capacity. It is often used in sports science and clinical settings, but it is unclear whether grip strength remains stable throughout a season or changes depending on training load, match exposure, and fatigue. In this study, elite ice hockey players from Swedish teams will have their grip strength measured at four timepoints during one season: pre-season, early season, mid-season, and late season. Both dominant and non-dominant hand strength will be assessed using a standardized dynamometer and protocol. The main purpose is to determine how much grip strength varies within individual players over time and whether a single measurement can be considered representative of a player's true strength level across a season. The study will also evaluate the reliability of grip strength measurements and whether observed changes are large enough to be meaningful in a clinical or performance context. No intervention is performed, and all measurements are non-invasive and conducted as part of routine testing environments within participating teams.

Conditions

Within-season Variability and Reliability of Hand Grip Strength in Elite Ice Hockey Players; Neuromuscular Performance Stability in Athletes

Keywords

ice hockey; hand grip strength; within-season variability; test-retest reliability

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Within-Subject Variability of Hand Grip Strength

  Within-subject variability of maximal isometric hand grip strength across a competitive season in elite ice hockey players, expressed as coefficient of variation (CV%) across repeated measurements.

  From baseline (pre-season) to end of season (pre-playoff), up to 8 months

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Test-Retest Reliability of Hand Grip Strength

  From baseline (pre-season) to end of season (pre-playoff), up to 8 months

• Within-Subject Standard Deviation of Grip Strength

  From baseline (pre-season) to end of season (pre-playoff), up to 8 months

• Standard Error of Measurement (SEM)

  From baseline (pre-season) to end of season (pre-playoff), up to 8 months

• Minimal Detectable Change (MDC95)

  From baseline (pre-season) to end of season (pre-playoff), up to 8 months

• Seasonal Change in Grip Strength

  From baseline (pre-season) to end of season (pre-playoff), up to 8 months

Study Arms (1)

Elite Ice Hockey Players Cohort

Elite male and female ice hockey players from Swedish top-level teams (SHL, HockeyAllsvenskan, SDHL). Participants undergo repeated standardized measurements of hand grip strength across four predefined timepoints during one competitive season (pre-season, early season, mid-season, and pre-playoff/end-of-season). The same individuals are followed longitudinally to assess within-subject variability and stability of grip strength over time.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

150

You may qualify if:

• Contracted elite ice hockey players in participating Swedish teams (SHL, HockeyAllsvenskan, SDHL or equivalent top division)
• Male or female players competing at elite level
• Available for testing at all predefined measurement timepoints across the season
• Able to perform maximal hand grip strength testing
• Provides informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Acute hand or wrist injury at baseline preventing maximal grip strength testing
• Any condition during the study period preventing completion of repeated grip strength assessments
• Inability to participate in all scheduled measurement sessions
• Refusal to participate

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Dalarna County Council, Sweden: lead

Study Sites (1)

Center for Clinical Research Dalarna, Uppsala University

Falun, Dalarna County, 79182, Sweden

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Toong T, Wilson KE, Urban K, Paniccia M, Hunt AW, Keightley M, Reed N. Grip Strength in Youth Ice Hockey Players: Normative Values and Predictors of Performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2018 Dec;32(12):3494-3502. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002815.

  PMID: 30216250 BACKGROUND

• Roberts HC, Denison HJ, Martin HJ, Patel HP, Syddall H, Cooper C, Sayer AA. A review of the measurement of grip strength in clinical and epidemiological studies: towards a standardised approach. Age Ageing. 2011 Jul;40(4):423-9. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afr051. Epub 2011 May 30.

  PMID: 21624928 BACKGROUND

Central Study Contacts

Daniel Muder, MD, PhD

CONTACT

+46722027596; danielmuder@email.com

Tomas Hultgren, MD

CONTACT

tomas.hultgren@hotmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 30, 2026
• First Posted: May 6, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Last Updated: May 6, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: From the publication of the protocol and for 10 years thereafter.
• Access Criteria: Access to individual participant data is typically restricted to authorized researchers involved in the study or approved collaborators under strict confidentiality and data protection agreements.

Locations

SE (1)