An observational study in Ice Hockey, Grip Strength and Within-season Variability, sponsored by Dalarna County Council, Sweden. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Sweden. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-05.
Sponsored by Dalarna County Council, Sweden · Observational
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.
This is a prospective longitudinal observational cohort study designed to evaluate within-season variability and measurement stability of maximal isometric hand grip strength in elite ice hockey players.
Hand grip strength is widely used as a surrogate marker of upper-limb strength and general neuromuscular capacity. Although its reliability has been well described in clinical and general athletic populations when measured using standardized protocols, limited evidence exists regarding its temporal stability in elite collision sport athletes over an entire competitive season. In particular, it remains unclear whether grip strength behaves as a stable individual characteristic or whether it is influenced by seasonal training load, match congestion, fatigue, or adaptation effects.
The study will include elite male and female ice hockey players recruited from Swedish top-level teams. Participants will undergo repeated standardized grip strength assessments at four predefined timepoints across one competitive season: pre-season baseline, early mid-season, late mid-season, and pre-playoff/end-of-season phase. All measurements will be performed using a calibrated hand dynamometer following a standardized protocol based on established clinical measurement guidelines, including consistent body positioning, handle adjustment, and repeated maximal trials for both dominant and non-dominant hands. Mean values from repeated trials will be used for analysis.
To reduce measurement variability, all testing will be conducted by trained assessors using harmonized instructions across participating teams. Where possible, testing sessions will be scheduled to minimize acute fatigue effects by ensuring a standardized recovery period following matches or high-intensity training sessions.
The primary analytical focus is within-subject variability of grip strength across the season, quantified using measures of dispersion and reliability, including coefficient of variation (CV%), within-subject standard deviation, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Additional analyses will estimate measurement error (standard error of measurement) and minimal detectable change (MDC95) to determine the smallest meaningful change in grip strength that exceeds expected measurement noise.
Longitudinal changes in grip strength across the season will be assessed using mixed-effects statistical models to account for repeated measures within individuals and potential group-level effects such as sex and playing level.
The study does not involve any interventions, treatment allocation, or experimental manipulation. All assessments are non-invasive and conducted within routine team environments. The findings are intended to inform interpretation of grip strength in athletic monitoring, rehabilitation contexts, and performance evaluation, specifically whether single timepoint measurements can be reliably used for comparison against normative data or whether seasonality must be considered in clinical and performance decision-making.
Dalarna County Council, Sweden is the lead sponsor of 28 studies on the registry; 10 are open to participants now.
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You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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.
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.
Time frame: From baseline (pre-season) to end of season (pre-playoff), up to 8 months
Test-Retest Reliability of Hand Grip Strength
Reliability of repeated grip strength measurements across the season assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
Time frame: From baseline (pre-season) to end of season (pre-playoff), up to 8 months
Within-Subject Standard Deviation of Grip Strength
Absolute within-player variability in grip strength across the competitive season.
Time frame: From baseline (pre-season) to end of season (pre-playoff), up to 8 months
Standard Error of Measurement (SEM)
Measurement error of grip strength across repeated seasonal assessments.
Time frame: From baseline (pre-season) to end of season (pre-playoff), up to 8 months
Minimal Detectable Change (MDC95)
Smallest change in grip strength considered beyond measurement error with 95% confidence.
Time frame: From baseline (pre-season) to end of season (pre-playoff), up to 8 months
Seasonal Change in Grip Strength
Systematic changes in maximal grip strength across the competitive season assessed using longitudinal mixed-effects models.
Time frame: From baseline (pre-season) to end of season (pre-playoff), up to 8 months
Plan to share: 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.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form
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.
Data sharing details ↗ · swehip.se
Start is estimated for Sep 2026; primary completion for Apr 2027, 7 months later.
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Dalarna County Council, Sweden