The Leksand Hockey Trial on Grip Strength
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 19
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Game Score
Study Overview
Brief 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 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.
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.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Other
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Professional hockey player signed in the SHL/SDHL/Hockey Allsvenskan
- •No current hand injury
Exclusion Criteria
- •Not signed in the SHL/SDHL/Hockey Allsvenskan
- •Current hand injury
Arms & Interventions
Grip Strength Training
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
Intervention: Training following a predefined protocol. (Other)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
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.
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.
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.
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.
Secondary Outcomes
- Shots on goal/game(Calculated for each player at baseline and at follow-up, which will occur no earlier than 10 weeks and no later than 24 weeks.)
- Shooting prescision(Calculated for each player at baseline and at follow-up, which will occur no earlier than 10 weeks and no later than 24 weeks.)
- Injuries(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.)
- Shots on goal/game(Calculated for each player at baseline and at follow-up, which will occur no earlier than 10 weeks and no later than 24 weeks.)
- Shooting prescision(Calculated for each player at baseline and at follow-up, which will occur no earlier than 10 weeks and no later than 24 weeks.)
- Injuries(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.)
Investigators
Daniel Muder
MD, PhD
Dalarna County Council, Sweden