Association of Thrower's Ten Conditioning With Changes in Throwing Distance and Shoulder Strength in Amateur Male Discus Throwers: a Retrospective Cohort Study

This is a retrospective observational comparative study evaluating previously completed training records of amateur male discus throwers. The study compares athletes who participated in a Thrower's Ten-based conditioning programme with athletes who participated in conventional conditioning. Participant allocation to the training programmes was not performed prospectively according to a research randomization protocol; programme assignment was primarily related to scheduling and facility availability.

The analysis includes athletes for whom complete records were available for the relevant assessment time points. The primary outcome is discus-throwing distance. Secondary outcomes comprise shoulder muscle strength measured using manual muscle testing. Outcome assessments were available at baseline and subsequent assessment points during the training period, including the end-of-training assessment.

The primary analysis evaluates differences in the pattern of change over time between the two training groups using a mixed-design analysis of variance, with the time-by-group interaction representing the principal longitudinal comparison. Multiple outcomes were considered and a Bonferroni-adjusted significance threshold was applied. Difference-in-change estimates and confidence intervals were also calculated. Exploratory covariate-adjusted sensitivity analyses were performed for selected outcomes.

Because the study is based on previously completed records, the findings represent associations between participation in the respective training programmes and changes in throwing performance and shoulder strength. The study does not establish that the Thrower's Ten exercise content alone caused the observed differences. Differences in programme progression and unmeasured training factors, including throwing volume, may have contributed to the observed results.

The study is intended to provide preliminary evidence regarding the relationship between a structured Thrower's Ten-based conditioning programme and performance-related outcomes in amateur male discus throwers and to inform future prospective controlled studies.