The Kinetic Link: Investigating Shoulder Strength as a Determinant of Throwing Velocity in Handball Players.

Abstract

Abstract: García-Buendía, G, Martínez-García, D, Chirosa Ríos, IJ, Chirosa Ríos, LJ, and Rodríguez-Perea, Á. The kinetic link: Investigating shoulder strength as a determinant of throwing velocity in handball players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2025-This study explores the relationship between shoulder strength and throwing velocity in 34 amateur handball players (26 males, 8 females), with an average age of 22.47 years, using a cross-sectional study design. Measurements of shoulder strength included flexion, extension, horizontal abduction, horizontal adduction, and both internal and external rotation. The analysis also measured throwing velocity before a standard training session. Our results show a significant correlation between horizontal abduction strength and throwing velocity (r: 0.752; p < 0.001). A composite shoulder strength score, derived from average z-scores across all strength tests, demonstrated a large to very large correlation with throwing velocity (r: 0.661-0.701). Multiple regression analysis identified several key predictors of peak throwing velocity: height, peak concentric extension, mean concentric horizontal abduction, and eccentric external rotation, which together explained 68% of the variance in throwing velocity. These findings underscore the importance of these specific shoulder movements and their contribution to effective throwing performance in handball. The study highlights that a targeted approach to strength training, emphasizing these critical movements, could significantly enhance throwing velocity in amateur handball players.