Medicine balls have traditionally been used to develop upper body strength through catching and throwing exercises. Medicine ball training is also designed to enhance power, strength, flexibility and agility. In addition, they are used for abdominal strength gains and rehabilitation exercises for various injuries to the upper torso.

Background Handgrip strength claims to reflect general strength and correlates with tests of strength, particularly to the lower extremity. Few studies examine correlations between Jamar and the upper body and mainly focus on populations with lower strength. Climbers were assumed to have higher levels of strength. Purpose The purpose was to investigate grip strength, 1RM pull-up and 1RM leg extension in climbers in Uppsala and examine the relationship between grip strength and the 1RM tests to further evaluate grip strength as a measure of general strength. Method The study is a descriptive cross-sectional study testing 25 climbers. Jamar, 3-5RM pull-up and 3-5RM leg extension are done in succession with protocols for standardisation and 1RM is calculated based on Epley's formula. The descriptive measurements are then analyzed and put in correlation.  Results The relationship between 1RM pull-up and grip strength was moderately strong and statistically significant, r = 0.597 (p = 0.002). The relationship between 1RM leg extension and grip strength was moderately strong and statistically significant r = 0.446 (p = 0.026). Conclusion Handgrip strength measured with Jamar in climbers doesn’t deviate from the general population. A moderately strong relationship was found between Jamar and the 1RM tests. Further studies should put Jamar in relation to different tests of muscle strength in populations with varying levels of strength to evaluate Jamar as a measure of general muscle strength. Protocols for standardization of Jamar needs to be further developed. / Bakgrund Handgreppsstyrka hävdas kunna avspegla generell muskelstyrka och har visats korrelera med olika test av maximal styrka, i synnerhet i nedre extremitet. Få studier undersöker samband till den övre extremiteten och fokuserar uteslutande på populationer med låg muskelstyrka. Klättrare antogs initialt ha högre muskelstyrka i samtliga test. Syfte Syftet med denna studie var att hos klättrare i Uppsala undersöka greppstyrkan respektive 1RM pull-ups och 1RM benspark samt att studera respektive samband mellan greppstyrka och 1RM-testen för vidare undersöka handgreppsstyrka mätt med Jamar som ett mått på generell muskelstyrka.  Metod Studien är en deskriptiv tvärsnittsstudie som testar 25 klättrare. Jamar, 3-5RM i pull-up samt 3-5RM i benspark testas i succession utifrån standardiseringsprotokoll och 1RM, den maximala vikt som en repetition kan utföras med beräknas sedan utifrån Epleys formel. De olika deskriptiva måtten analyseras samt ställs i korrelation till varandra.  Resultat Sambandet mellan 1RM-pull-up och maximal handgreppsstyrka mätt med Jamar var måttligt starkt och statistiskt signifikant, r=0.597 (p=0.002). Sambandet mellan 1RM benspark och maximal handgreppsstyrka mätt med Jamar var måttligt starkt och statistiskt signifikant r=0.446 (p=0.026). Slutsats Handgreppsstyrka mätt med Jamar hos klättrare avviker inte från den generella populationen. Handgreppstyrkan hade ett måttligt stark samband till både 1RM benspark och 1RM pull-up. Vidare studier krävs som ställer Jamar i relation till olika muskeltester och styrkenivåer för vidare utvärdera mätresultat från Jamar som ett mått på generell muskelstyrka. Standardiseringsprotokoll för Jamar behöver vidareutvecklas.

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Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between weightlifting performance (snatch, clean and jerk, and total) and variables obtained from the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP). Methods: Twelve weightlifters, ranging from novice to advanced, performed the IMTP 10 days after a competition. Correlations were used to evaluate relationships between variables of the IMTP and absolute and scaled competition results. Results: Unscaled competition results correlated strongly with IRFD (0-200ms: r=0.567-0.645, 0-250ms: r=0.722-0.781) while results correlated weakly with Peak IRFD (5ms window, r=0.360-0.426). Absolute peak force values correlated very strongly with absolute values for the competition performance (r=0.830-0.838). Force at 100ms, 150ms, 200ms and 250ms also correlated strongly with competition results (r=0.643-0.647, r=0.605-0.636, r=0.714-0.732, r=0.801-0.804). Similar findings were noted for allometrically scaled values. Conclusion: Measures of average IRFD probably represent a more relevant variable to dynamic performance than does Peak IRFD (5ms). Maximum isometric strength also is likely to have a strong role in weightlifting performance.

This study examined the short-term training effects of two volumes of a dynamic warm up performed 4 days per week over a 3 1/2-week period. A total of 25 Division III wrestlers volunteered for the study. Three participants either dropped out or were unable to attend post-testing, resulting in 22 total participants completing the study. Groups were divided into control, low volume, and high volume groups. All participants completed pre and poststudy performance tests including the standing long jump, proagility, start-stop-cut, and 30- meter sprint. The low and high volume training groups each performed the same dynamic warm up prior to each pre-season captain's practice. The control group did not participate in an organized warm up. The low volume group performed one set of each warm up exercise, and the high volume group performing two sets of each warm up exercise. Data analysis indicated significant increases in performance for the standing long jump (p = .011) and start-stop-cut (p = .000) measures among the entire sample population. However, there was no significant difference between the groups in these measures. No significant results were found either for the sample as a whole or between groups for the proagility and 30-meter measures. The increased performance of all groups, including the control group, fails to provide evidence for the effectiveness of training with either warm up volume. Further research is needed to address limitations of this study to determine effectiveness of various warm up volumes.

Introduktion: Balans definieras som förmågan att kontrollera tyngdpunkten i förhållande till understödsytan. Bålen är centrum av de kinetiska kedjorna och har en betydelsefull roll vid utförande och kvalitén på rörelser. Tidigare studier har föreslagit att bålstabilitetsträning har en positiv effekt på dynamisk balans. Nedsatt balans kan ge upphov till skador och rehabilitering av dessa sker ofta kliniskt. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka sambandet mellan bålstabilitet och dynamisk balans hos unga friska individer. Metod: Studien omfattade 8 försökspersoner. Förfrågan om medverkan sändes till sex klassgrupper med universitetsstudenter på Facebook. Dynamisk balans testades via star excursion balance test och bålstabiliteten testades via core muscle strength and stability test. Resultat: Mellan bålstabilitet och dynamisk balans vid stående på höger fot och sträckning av vänster fot, fanns ett måttligt positivt samband vid riktning posteriomedialt (r=0.63). Samt ett lågt positivt samband vid riktning posteriolateralt (r=0.35). Ett lågt negativt samband kunde ses vid stående på vänster fot och sträckning av höger fot, i den anteriora riktningen (r=-0.45). Konklusion: Samband kan antydas mellan bålstabilitet och dynamisk balans vid enstaka sträckriktningar och skiljer sig beroende på stödfot. Större studier behövs för vidare undersökning inom området.

Title: Development of improvement in muscle strength, coordination and speed in sport climbing in children of elementary school age Objectives: The aim of this diploma theses is to investigate whether there will be an improvement of muscle strength, coordination and speed in children of elementary school age who attend club of sport climbing and compare results with control group. Another aim of this study is to indicate the relationship between the examined parameters. Methods: This is a quantitative study - quasi-experiment in which 28 probands aged 7-11 years participated. They were deliberately selected and divided into two groups (climbers, non-climbers). Coordination measurements were performed using eight special tests, measurements of muscle strength were performed using three climbing tests and speed was measured by time of climbing on one route. The measurements were performed two with an interval of 3 months - in October 2019 and in January 2020. Results: A statistically significant improvement (p <0.001) was noted in coordination, specifically in rhythmic ability. Other improvements, which, however, no longer reached the level of statistical significance, was recorded in coordination in tests for differentiation ability, orientation ability, ability to rebuild; also in tests for muscle...

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a CNS related permanent disorder following a lesion on the developing brain. Spasticity and muscle weakness are the most commonly reported impairments. Aim: To describe spasticity measured instrumentally as the muscle resistance and muscle strength in children with CP and in typically developing children (TD), and explore the relationship between muscle resistance, muscle strength and functional mobility. Method: Measurements of the muscle resistance in plantarflexors with Neuroflexor®. Muscle strength measurements in the lower leg with a rig-fixed dynamometry in n= 4 children with CP and in n = 11 TD children. Timed Up and Go (TUG) test measured in seconds in 4 children with CP. Results: Mann- Whitney U test showed a significant increased muscle resistance in plantarflexors during a fast movement between children with CP and TD children (p = 0.044). It was significantly shown that the children with CP were weaker in their dorsiflexors compared to the group of TD children (p = 0,001). Analysis for muscle resistance and TUG was collected for 2 children with CP and therefore no correlation analysis could be made. Conclusion: This pilot study indicates that the children with CP were weaker in their dorsiflexors compared to TD children and that muscle resistance measured during a passive elongation was higher, but no statistically significant conclusion can be made due to few included numbers of participants.

The purpose of this study was to compare the torque generating capabilities and fatigue responses of female power athletes, female endurance athletes, and age-matched female non-athletic controls.

Introduction Women’s soccer players need to train comprehensively to cope with the demands that exist during a soccer game. There are several studies on the relationship between muscle strength and jump and sprint ability. However, most studies are performed on male athletes.  Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between muscle strength and jump and sprint ability among elite female soccer players.  Method Nine female soccer players from a Swedish elite level team were included in the study. A quantitative approach in the form of a cross-sectional study was used. The participants performed a vertical jump, a drop jump, a 55-m sprint and a three-repetition maximum (3 RM) barbell squat test. Data collection took place at two different occasions, one at a track and field training facility for jumping and sprint tests, and one in the gym of the team facility for the squat test.  Results Significant correlations were observed between muscle strength and top running speed (r=0.77, p=0.15), 10-m (r=-0.66, p=0.05), 20-m (r=-0.73, p=0.03) and 30-m sprint time (r=-0.76, p=0.02). Muscle strength had non-significant correlation to drop jump (r=0.32, p=0.40) and vertical jump (r=0.40, p=0.28) performance.  Drop jump performance showed significant correlation with top running speed (r=0.72, p=0.03); similar correlation was not observed between vertical jump and top running speed (r=0.55, p=0.13). Sprints and jumping ability did not show a significant correlation; vertical jump and 10-m (r=-0.10, p=0.79), 20-m (r=-0.21, p=0.59) and 30-m sprint time (r=-0.31, p=0.42) respective drop jump and 10-m (r=-0.40, p=0.28), 20-m (r=-0.46, p=0.21) and 30-m sprint time (r=-0.55, p=0.13). Conclusion These results, with support from earlier research, indicated that greater lower body strength (quantified by 3 RM squat) was related to better top running speed and 10-m, 20-m and 30-m sprint time in female soccer players. On the other hand, jumping ability had a non-significant correlation to muscle strength, sprint time or top running speed, with the exception of drop jump performance and top running speed that had a strong correlation. / Introduktion Kvinnliga fotbollsspelare behöver träna allsidigt för att klara av de krav som finns under en fotbollsmatch. Det finns flera studier utförda på samband mellan styrka och hopp- och sprintförmåga. De flesta studier är däremot utförda på manliga idrottare.   Syfte Syftet med studien var att undersöka samband mellan styrka, hopp- och sprintförmåga hos elitidrottsaktiva kvinnliga fotbollsspelare.  Metod Nio (n=9) kvinnliga fotbollsspelare på elitnivå i Sverige tackade ja till att delta i studien. En kvantitativ ansats i form av tvärsnittsstudie användes för att svara på studiens syfte. Deltagarna utförde ett vertikalhopptest, ett drop jump, ett 55 meters sprinttest och ett tre repetition maximal (3 RM) knäböjstest. Datainsamlingen skedde vid två olika tillfällen varav ena var på en friidrottsanläggning för sprint och hopptester och andra i ett gym för knäböjstest.  Resultat Resultatet observerade att 3 RM skivstångsknäböj hade en stark signifikant korrelation med topphastighet (r=0,77, p=0,15) och acceleration 10 m (r=0,66, p=0,05), 20 m (r=-0,73,p=0,03) och 30 m (r=-0,76, p=0,02) och hade en svagare icke-signifikant korrelation med drop jump (r=0,32, p=0,40) och vertikalhopp (r=0,40, p=0,28). Topphastighet hade en signifikant korrelation med drop jump (r=0,72, p=0,03), liknande samband observerades inte med vertikalhopp (r=0,55, p=0,13). Hopptesterna noterade ingen signifikant korrelation till acceleration i studien; vertikalhopp och acceleration 10 m (r=-0,10, p=0,79), 20 m (r=-0,21, p=0,59) och 30 m (r=-0,31, p=0,42) respektive drop jump och acceleration 10 m (r=-0,40, p=0,28), 20 m (r=-0,46, p=0,21) och 30 m (r=-0,55, p=0,13). Slutsats Resultatet i studien ger en indikation till att högre relativ benstyrka, mätt med knäböj, har ett starkt samband till högre topphastighet och snabbare accelerationer upp till 30 m. Hoppförmåga har svagare samband med både styrka, acceleration och topphastighet. Undantag drop jump-test och topphastighet som har en stark korrelation.