The Effects of Specialized Grip Strength Training on Hand-Grip Performance of Male Wrestlers Aged 13-17

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of special grip strength-improving training on the performance of male wrestlers aged 13 – 17 years. The research sample consisted of 40 athletes the Wrestling Training Center in the district of Kavak in the province of Samsun, Türkiye. In addition to the annual training plan, the athletes in the experimental group underwent a special grip strength improving application consisting of five separate measures on a regular basis for eight weeks. The control group continued with their activities in line with the Wrestling Training Center annual training plan. Differences in grip strength in the groups were determined using Student’s t test, while relationships between participants’ ages, years spent in sport, height, weight, and grip strength (improvement values) were determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. SPSS version 22.0 software was used for all statistical calculations. The eight-week special grip strength training produced a statistically significant improvement (difference measurements) in the athletes’ right (P<0.001) and left hands (P=0.004). The special grip strength-improving training measures applied for eight weeks improved grip strength, an important ability for success in the sport of wrestling.