Grip StrengthNCT07567547
Normative Hand Grip Strength Values in Swedish Male and Female Ice Hockey Players Across Competitive Levels
An observational study of Grip Strength and Normative Values, run by Dalarna County Council, Sweden.
Trial summary
This study measures hand grip strength in male and female ice hockey players across different Swedish leagues to create reference (normative) values for adult players. Hand grip strength is a simple test of how strongly a person can squeeze with their hand. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 15 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Grip Strength, Normative Values, Ice Hockey Players
- How many people
- 800 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2026to 31 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Observational
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 15 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adult male and female ice hockey players recruited from Swedish ice hockey clubs across multiple competitive levels, including professional (SHL and SDHL), second-tier (HockeyAllsvenskan and Women's Allsvenskan where available), junior elite (U18/U20), and selected recreational teams. Participants are drawn from active club rosters during the pre-season or early competitive season period. Recruitment is conducted in collaboration with participating clubs and their medical or strength and conditioning staff. The population represents a broad sample of Swedish ice hockey players across sex, age, and competitive level.
Who may be able to join
- Adult male or female ice hockey players.
- Registered and actively participating in a Swedish ice hockey club during the current season.
- Participation in one of the included competitive levels: professional, semi-professional, junior elite, or recreational leagues in Sweden.
- Able to perform maximal hand grip strength testing. Provides written informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Current acute injury of the upper extremity (hand, wrist, forearm, or elbow) that prevents safe or valid grip strength testing.
- Any medical condition that contraindicates maximal effort testing, as determined by team medical staff or study personnel.
- Refusal or inability to provide informed consent.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
This study measures hand grip strength in male and female ice hockey players across different Swedish leagues to create reference (normative) values for adult players.
Hand grip strength is a simple test of how strongly a person can squeeze with their hand. Although it seems basic, it reflects overall upper-body strength and is widely used in both sports science and healthcare.
Read more
In this project, players from different levels of ice hockey (including professional men's and women's leagues, junior players, and recreational players if available) will have their grip strength measured using a standardized hand dynamometer. Measurements will be taken in a consistent way across all participating clubs.
The main goal is to build a reference database showing what "normal" grip strength looks like in ice hockey players depending on sex, league level, and playing position. This can help coaches, medical staff, and researchers better understand strength profiles in hockey athletes, support training and rehabilitation decisions, and provide benchmarks for future studies.
No treatment or intervention is given as part of the study.
Read the detailed description
This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, multi-league study designed to establish normative values for maximal isometric hand grip strength in adult Swedish ice hockey players.
Hand grip strength will be used as a standardized, low-cost proxy measure of upper-body muscular strength and general functional capacity. Although grip strength is widely used in clinical and sports science settings and has demonstrated good reliability when measured using standardized protocols, there is currently a lack of comprehensive normative data for adult ice hockey players. Existing literature is largely limited to youth cohorts or general athletic "combine"-type populations, with insufficient stratification for adult competitive ice hockey across sexes, league levels, and playing positions.
This study will include male and female players from multiple competitive levels in Swedish ice hockey, including professional leagues (SHL and SDHL), second-tier leagues (HockeyAllsvenskan and Women's Allsvenskan where feasible), junior elite levels (U18/U20), and potentially recreational adult players. Participants will be recruited through participating clubs during the pre-season or early competitive season period.
Grip strength will be measured using a standardized hand dynamometer according to a unified protocol aligned with established clinical measurement guidelines (including standardized positioning, device calibration, and repeated trials per hand). Both dominant and non-dominant hand grip strength will be recorded, and mean values will be used for analysis. To reduce inter-tester variability, participating sites will be instructed to follow a harmonized measurement protocol.
In addition to grip strength, basic demographic and anthropometric data will be collected, including age, sex, playing position (forward/defense), playing experience, height, and body mass. Where available, supplementary body composition data from club testing routines may also be included to allow exploratory analyses of strength relative to body size.
The primary purpose of the study is descriptive: to generate normative reference values (including percentiles) for grip strength in adult ice hockey players, stratified by sex, league level, and playing position. Secondary analyses will explore associations between grip strength and anthropometric and demographic variables.
This study does not include any intervention or experimental treatment. All measurements are non-invasive and performed during routine testing environments within clubs. The results are intended to support strength and conditioning practice, clinical assessment in sports medicine, and future research on performance, injury risk, and rehabilitation in ice hockey.
- Conditions
- Grip Strength, Normative Values, Ice Hockey Players
- Keywords
- ice hockey, athletes, grip strength, normative data
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Hockey Players | Adult male and female ice hockey players from multiple competitive levels in Sweden, including professional, semi-professional, junior elite, and recreational players. Participants undergo a single standardized measurement of hand grip strength. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Maximal Hand Grip Strength
Maximal isometric hand grip strength measured in kilograms using a standardized hand dynamometer in adult male and female ice hockey players. Measurements will be performed for both dominant and non-dominant hands using a standardized protocol, and mean maximal value will be used for analysis.
Measured: Baseline.
Secondary outcomes (2)
Anthropometric Characteristics
Height (cm), body mass (kg), and body composition (if available) of adult male and female ice hockey players.
Measured: Baseline.
Demographic and Playing Characteristics
Age, sex, playing position (forward/defense), league level, dominant hand, and years of playing experience in ice hockey.
Measured: Baseline.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 May 2026
- Study start1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Grip StrengthStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 800 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Dalarna County Council, Sweden
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Daniel Muder, Dalarna County Council, Sweden
- Investigators
- Daniel Muder, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, Centre for Clinical Research Dalarna, Uppsala University, Sweden
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07567547
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026-02210-01B
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 23 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 27 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Any data shared with colleagues or collaborating researchers will be fully anonymized or pseudonymized to protect participant privacy in accordance with GDPR regulations. Data transfers will occur under strict confidentiality agreements, and all parties will adhere to applicable data protection laws to ensure the security and privacy of personal information. We will act in accordance with the ethical approval granted by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (EPM) and comply with all relevant local policies regarding data protection.
Publications
HAKIR - Handkirurgiskt kvalitetsregister, Swedish Hand Surgery Quality Registry. Nationell manual för mätning av rörelse och styrka [Internet]. Sweden; 2025 Sep. Report No.: Version 1, 2024. Available from: Version 1, 2024
Chiarlitti NA, Delisle-Houde P, Reid RER, Kennedy C, Andersen RE. Importance of Body Composition in the National Hockey League Combine Physiological Assessments. J Strength Cond Res. 2018 Nov;32(11):3135-3142. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002309.
PubMed 29065054Toong 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.
PubMed 30216250Roberts 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.
PubMed 21624928