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
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
56
Participants will perform Medicine Ball Throw training focusing on chest pass, overhead throw, and rotational throw exercises to enhance dynamic strength and power in bowlers. The training program will be conducted three times per week for eight weeks under supervision, with progressive loading applied according to participant tolerance.
Participants will perform Resistance Band training consisting of upper extremity and trunk strengthening exercises using elastic resistance bands in cricket bowlers. The training program will be conducted three times per week for eight weeks under supervision, with progressive resistance applied throughout the intervention period.
Saeed Ajmal International Cricket Academy, Faisalabad
Faisalābad, Punjab Province, Pakistan
Dynamic Strength
Dynamic strength will be assessed using the medicine ball chest pass and overhead throw test and the closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test (CKCUEST). The medicine ball throw test will measure explosive upper-body strength by recording the maximum throw distance. The CKCUEST will assess upper extremity strength, endurance, and dynamic stability by counting the number of alternating hand touches performed within a fixed time.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Bowling Accuracy
Bowling accuracy will be evaluated using a standardized stump-target accuracy test. Participants will be instructed to bowl toward a defined target area, and the number of successful hits within the target zone will be recorded to quantify accuracy and control during bowling performance.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Upper Extremity Stability
Upper extremity stability will be assessed using the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST). The test will quantify upper limb strength, endurance, and dynamic stability by recording the number of alternating hand touches completed within a fixed time period.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Explosive Upper Limb performance
Explosive upper limb performance will be evaluated using medicine ball throw tests including chest pass and overhead throw. The maximum distance achieved during each throw will be recorded to assess explosive power of the upper extremities.
Time frame: 8 weeks
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