Medicine Ball Throw and Resistance Band Training Among Bowlers

Comparative Effects of Medicine Ball Throw and Resistance Band Training on the Dynamic Strength and Bowling Accuracy Among Bowlers

This study will be Randomized clinical trial and will recruit male/female cricket bowlers aged 18-30yrs. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups and will perform training sessions three times per week for eight weeks. Group A will engage in medicine ball throw training while Group B will participate in resistance band training. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of these two training programs on dynamic strength and bowling accuracy among cricket bowlers.

Study Design: Randomized Clinical Trial Sample size: 56 participants ( 28 in each group) Sampling Technique: Non- Probability convenience sampling technique Study Setting: Pakistan Sports Board, Lahore And Saeed Ajmal International Cricket Academy, Faisalabad & County Star Cricket Club, Faisalabad

Inclusion Criteria:

• Cricket bowlers actively participating in competitive cricket
• Age 18 to 30 years
• Both male and female players
• Minimum two years of cricket training experience
• Athletes with BMI between 18.6 kg/m² to 24.9 kg/m²

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of musculoskeletal injuries involving shoulder, elbow, neck, or spine
• History of fracture within the last six months
• Any previous surgery of the back or hip joint
• Athletes with neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, or psychiatric disorders
• Athletes consuming illegal performance-enhancing drugs

Intervention:

Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive Medicine Ball Throw training focusing on chest pass, overhead throw, and rotational throw exercises to improve dynamic strength and explosive power. Group B will receive Resistance Band training including resistance band push-ups, rowing exercises, and rotational press exercises to enhance neuromuscular control and strength. Both groups will perform supervised training sessions three times per week, with each session lasting approximately 45-50 minutes for a total duration of eight weeks. Bowling accuracy drills will be included for both groups during training sessions.

Tools:

• Medicine Ball Chest Pass / Overhead Throw Test to assess dynamic upper-body strength
• Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST) to assess upper-extremity stability and endurance
• Bowling speed measurement using a speed measuring device
• Bowling accuracy assessed using a standardized stump accuracy test

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male/female cricket players aged 18 to 30 years
• Actively participating in regular cricket training
• Minimum of two years of playing experience
• Free from upper limb injury at the time of recruitment
• Willingness to participate and provide informed consent -

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of upper limb, shoulder, elbow, or wrist injury in the past six months
• Any current musculoskeletal injury affecting performance
• History of surgery involving the upper extremity
• Presence of any neurological, cardiovascular, or systemic condition that may affect performance
• Participation in any other structured strength training program during the study period