Normative Hand Grip Strength Values in Swedish Male and Female Ice Hockey Players Across Competitive Levels

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.

Inclusion criteria

• 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.

Exclusion criteria

• 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.