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Grip StrengthNCT07115160

The Leksand Hockey Trial on Grip Strength

A study testing Training following a predefined protocol. in people with Grip Strength and Performance, run by Dalarna County Council, Sweden at 1 site in Sweden.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This project, titled The Leksand Hockey Trial on Grip Strength, investigates whether grip strength is related to performance in professional hockey players. Grip strength is already known to reflect general health and muscle function, and it plays a key role in ice hockey, where players rely on strong hands and… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Grip Strength, Performance, Injuries
What is being tested?
Training following a predefined protocol.
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
19 participants
Where
1 siteSweden
Study dates
5 Nov 2025to 9 Feb 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Professional hockey player signed in the SHL/SDHL/Hockey Allsvenskan
  • No current hand injury

Who cannot join

  • Not signed in the SHL/SDHL/Hockey Allsvenskan
  • Current hand injury

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Sweden1 site

  • Leksands IF

    Leksand, Region Dalarna, 79331

Other trials in Sweden

About this study

This project, titled The Leksand Hockey Trial on Grip Strength, investigates whether grip strength is related to performance in professional hockey players. Grip strength is already known to reflect general health and muscle function, and it plays a key role in ice hockey, where players rely on strong hands and forearms for stick handling, shooting, and physical challenges on the ice. Despite this, no clinical study has yet explored whether stronger grip strength leads to better on-ice performance. In this pilot study, we will first examine if there is a correlation between grip strength and key performance indicators such as game score (a combined measure of offensive and defensive contribution), number of shots on goal, and shooting precision. Grip strength will be measured using a standardized protocol and professional players from SHL, SDHL, and HockeyAllsvenskan will be included. Performance data will be collected before and after the grip strength assessment. Additionally, injuries sustained during the study period will be recorded and monitored as an outcome measure. We will investigate whether there is any correlation between grip strength and injury incidence to assess if stronger grip strength may influence injury risk or resilience in professional hockey players. In the second part of the study, players will follow a grip-strength training program to determine whether improvements in grip strength lead to better performance. If a link is found, grip strength could be used as a simple and reliable proxy for player performance and may justify the inclusion of specific grip training in professional hockey conditioning programs. This study aims to fill a knowledge gap in elite sports science and could help optimize training and evaluation methods in professional ice hockey.

Read the detailed description

This study, titled The Leksand Hockey Trial on Grip Strength, aims to explore the relationship between grip strength (GS) and athletic performance in professional ice hockey players. Grip strength is a well-established biomarker for general muscle function, physical capability, and even long-term health outcomes. It is commonly used in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and performance diagnostics due to its simplicity, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. In ice hockey, grip strength plays a particularly critical role given the physical demands of stickhandling, shooting, passing, puck control, and body contact situations.

Despite its relevance, the correlation between grip strength and actual game performance in elite hockey players has not been systematically studied. This project addresses two primary research questions: (1) Does grip strength correlate with performance in professional hockey players? and (2) Does improved grip strength result in measurable performance improvements?

The study will be conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, we will recruit approximately 40 professional male and female hockey players from the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), Swedish Women's Hockey League (SDHL), and HockeyAllsvenskan. Each participant will undergo grip strength testing using the standardized HAKIR protocol with a Jamar dynamometer. Three alternating trials per hand will be recorded, and the average grip strength (in kilograms) will be calculated. Simultaneously, player performance will be assessed based on three key metrics:

Game Score: A composite metric capturing offensive and defensive contributions, adjusted for even-strength playing time (adapted from existing SHL models).

Shots on Goal: Total number of shots per game.

Shooting Precision: Ratio of goals to total shots taken.

Injuries sustained during the season

Each of these metrics will be collected for the five games preceding and following grip strength measurement. Statistical analyses will include Pearson correlation, t-tests, chi-square tests, and non-parametric alternatives where appropriate. Estimates will be presented with 95% confidence intervals, and p-values < 0.05 will be considered statistically significant. As a pilot study, no formal power calculation will be performed initially, but variance estimates will be used to plan a larger future trial.

Additionally, injuries sustained during the study period will be recorded and monitored as an outcome measure. We will investigate whether there is any correlation between grip strength and injury incidence to assess if stronger grip strength may influence injury risk or resilience in professional hockey players.

In Phase 2, participants will engage in a standardized grip-strength training program over a defined period (see Appendix D). Post-intervention grip strength and performance metrics will be reassessed using the same methods to determine whether an increase in grip strength is associated with performance improvement.

Inclusion criteria include:

Active rostered player in SHL, SDHL, or HockeyAllsvenskan

No current hand or wrist injury

Exclusion criteria:

Not currently signed in the aforementioned leagues

Current injury to the hand or wrist that impairs testing

This project addresses a notable knowledge gap in elite performance research. If grip strength is shown to correlate with or enhance performance, it could be used as a proxy marker in sports performance evaluations and as a justification for implementing targeted grip-strength training in professional hockey conditioning programs. The findings may contribute to improved training strategies, rehabilitation protocols, and performance monitoring in elite ice hockey.

Being tested
Training following a predefined protocol.
Keywords
grip strength, ice hockey, injury, professional, performance, game score, sports science, strength training, athletes
Medical subject headings
Wounds and Injuries

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Training following a predefined protocol.Other

    Training following a predefined protocol.

Study groups in NCT07115160
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Grip Strength TrainingExperimentalIn the second phase of the study, a standardized grip strength training program will be implemented as the primary intervention. This program is designed to improve grip strength in professional hockey players over a defined period (details in Appendix D). All participants who completed Phase 1 will undergo this intervention. The training program includes specific exercises targeting the forearm flexors and extensors, wrist stability, and hand grip endurance. Typical exercises may involve hand grippers, wrist rollers, towel wringing, plate pinches, and resisted squeezing movements using elastic bands or putty. Training frequency, intensity, duration, and progression will be standardized and supervised to ensure consistency across participants. After completion of the training period, grip strength will be re-measured using the same HAKIR protocol and dynamometer. Performance metrics-game score, shots on goal, and shooting precision-will also be collected for the five games following
Receives: Other: Training following a predefined protocol.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Game Score

    The Game Score used in this study is calculated as follows:

    Game Score = Offensive Game Score + Defensive Game Score

    Each component is defined below:

    Offense:

    Individual Contributions:

    • Goal: 0.75
    • First assist: 0.7
    • Second assist: 0.55
    • Expected goals (xG): 0.5

    On-ice Contributions (team performance with the player on the ice):

    • Goals for: 0.625 (for forwards), 0.425 (for defensemen)
    • Shots attempted for: 0.625 (for forwards), 1.7 (for defensemen)

    Defense:

    Individual Contributions:

    • Penalty minutes: 0.15

    On-ice Contributions (team performance with the player on the ice):

    • Goals against: 0.4375 (for forwards), 0.575 (for defensemen)
    • Shots attempted against: 1.75 (for forwards), 2.3 (for defensemen) Each component is adjusted based on the player's minutes played in each game and is measured in goals above average.

    Measured: Calculated for each player at baseline and at follow-up, which will occur no earlier than 10 weeks and no later than 24 weeks.

Secondary outcomes (3)

  1. Shots on goal/game

    Number of shots on goal/game

    Measured: Calculated for each player at baseline and at follow-up, which will occur no earlier than 10 weeks and no later than 24 weeks.

  2. Shooting prescision

    To measure shooting accuracy by counting successful shots on two designated target areas in the goal.

    Equipment and Setup:

    Player Equipment: Standard training gear used in regular practice.

    Puck: Standard SHL/SDHL hockey puck.

    Goal: Standard SHL/SDHL goal.

    Targets: Two targets at:

    Upper left corner (1)

    Upper right corner (2) Each ~13 cm (5 inches) diameter.

    Distance: Player positioned 4-5 meters (13-16 feet) directly in front of the goal.

    Procedure:

    Pre-Test Preparation:

    Conducted during or immediately after a regular training session.

    Players complete standard warm-up.

    Shooting Protocol:

    Each player completes 15 shots per target, alternating every 5 shots between the upper left and upper right corners.

    Total of 30 shots per player.

    Observers record hit/miss on a simple tally sheet.

    Measured: Calculated for each player at baseline and at follow-up, which will occur no earlier than 10 weeks and no later than 24 weeks.

  3. Injuries

    Injuries reported during the season. Regarding type of injury and missed ice time due to the injury.

    Measured: From the start of the 2025/26 season on September 13th until the end of the season, defined by the date of the final playoff game.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Aug 2025
  2. Study start5 Nov 2025
  3. Primary completion9 Feb 2026
  4. Study completion9 Feb 2026

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
In the second phase of the study, a standardized grip strength training program will be implemented as the primary intervention. This program is designed to improve grip strength in professional hockey players over a defined period (details in Appendix D). All participants who completed Phase 1 will undergo this intervention. The training program includes specific exercises targeting the forearm flexors and extensors, wrist stability, and hand grip endurance. Typical exercises may involve hand grippers, wrist rollers, towel wringing, plate pinches, and resisted squeezing movements using elastic bands or putty. Training frequency, intensity, duration, and progression will be standardized and supervised to ensure consistency across participants. After completion of the training period, grip strength will be re-measured using the same HAKIR protocol and dynamometer. Performance metrics-game score, shots on goal, and shooting precision-will also be collected for the five games following
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
19 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07115160
Sponsor's protocol ID
2024-08560-01
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
20 Jun 2025
Last updated
24 Apr 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

  • Jiang R, Westwater ML, Noble S, Rosenblatt M, Dai W, Qi S, Sui J, Calhoun VD, Scheinost D. Associations between grip strength, brain structure, and mental health in > 40,000 participants from the UK Biobank. BMC Med. 2022 Sep 9;20(1):286. doi: 10.1186/s12916-022-02490-2.

    PubMed 36076200

  • Toong 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 30216250

  • Tavares Junior AC, Silva HS, Penedo T, do Amaral Rocha LGS, da Silva AS, Venditti Junior R, Dos-Santos JW. Correlation of the Handgrip Strength and Body Composition Parameters in Young Judokas. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 2;20(3):2707. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20032707.

    PubMed 36768073

  • Trivic T, Eliseev S, Tabakov S, Raonic V, Casals C, Jahic D, Jaksic D, Drid P. Somatotypes and hand-grip strength analysis of elite cadet sambo athletes. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Jan;99(3):e18819. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000018819.

    PubMed 32011492

  • Roberts 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

  • Ewing Fess, E. Clinical Assessment Recommendations. Michigan: In Casanova, J. S. (Ed.),American Society of Hand Therapists.; pp. 41-45). (2d edition; vol. 1992).

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Training following a predefined protocol. in people with Grip Strength and Performance, run by Dalarna County Council, Sweden at 1 site in Sweden.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Game Score (time frame: Calculated for each player at baseline and at follow-up, which will occur no earlier than 10 weeks and no later than 24 weeks.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07115160, which also lists 6 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Apr 2026.

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