(38) GRIP STRENGTH NORMATIVE VALUES FOR YOUTH BASEBALL PLAYERS

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the grip strength of youth baseball players.

Methods: Six hundred and eleven (611) male youth baseball players were measured for grip strength using a standardized testing protocol.  The participants attended a national baseball academy in Orlando, Florida and included the following age groups: age 13 (N = 76), age 14 (N = 91), age 15 (N = 143), age 16 (N = 164), and age 17, (N = 137).  Grip strength was assessed by the Jamar® hydraulic grip strength dynamometer while maintaining an elbow angle of 90 degrees.  Three trials were performed for each hand in alternating order.  The best effort for each hand was recorded to the nearest kilogram, added together, and divided by two to determine a grip strength average.

Results: Descriptive statistics were utilized to calculate grip strength normative values for each age group.  The means and standard deviations are as follows: age 13 (26.1 ± 6.6 kg), age 14 (32.3 ± 7.2 kg), age 15 (37.3 ± 6.7 kg), age 16 (40.7 ± 6.5 kg), and age 17 (73.1 ± 6.4 kg). 

Conclusions: The results of this investigation provide valuable descriptive data that can be utilized to generate detailed normative reference values.  PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Coaches, players, and strength and conditioning professionals wishing to increase the strength of youth baseball players can use standardized testing and normative values, as one measure to assess the effectiveness of their strength and conditioning programs.

Acknowledgements: None