The Reliability of the Seated Medicine Ball Throw for Distance

George Beckham^1, , Sienna Lish¹, Lisa Keebler¹, Casey Longaker¹, Caleb Disney¹, Mark DeBeliso² and Kent J. Adams¹

¹Kinesiology Department, California State University Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA, 93933, USA

²Department of Kinesiology and Outdoor Recreation, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT, 84720 USA

Cite this paper:
George Beckham, Sienna Lish, Lisa Keebler, Casey Longaker, Caleb Disney, Mark DeBeliso and Kent J. Adams. The Reliability of the Seated Medicine Ball Throw for Distance. Journal of Physical Activity Research. 2019; 4(2):131-136. doi: 10.12691/jpar-4-2-9

Abstract

Measuring distance thrown during the Seated Medicine Ball Throw (SMBT) has been used frequently within the literature to quantify upper body explosiveness, due to the test being easy to learn, low-risk, and requiring minimal equipment. The reliability of distance thrown in the SMBT has not been broadly reported, nor have familiarization protocols been thoroughly documented. The purpose of this study is to assess the reliability of distance thrown during the SMBT as a representative measurement for upper body explosiveness in active, recreationally trained adults. Before testing, 20 subjects completed a dynamic warm-up. After learning proper technique, subjects were familiarized with the exercise by completing continuous trials using a 10 lb medicine ball, with 1 minute of rest between trials, until three consecutive throws within 0.25 m were achieved. Subjects rested 20 minutes, repeated the warm-up, and then completed 6 trials of the SMBT where distance of each throw was measured. Any trial in which technique deviated significantly from the instructions was repeated. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess reliability between trials. Distances thrown for trials 1-6 were as follows: 3.43±0.99 m, 3.41±0.95 m, 3.48±1.00 m, 3.48±1.00 m, 3.46±1.03 m, and 3.54±1.05 m respectively. ICCs for consecutive trial pairs ranged from 0.97-0.99. These findings suggest that distance thrown is a reliable representative measure of upper body explosiveness in recreationally trained adults. The familiarization protocol used was sufficient for producing consistent performance.

Keywords:
medicine ball upper-body explosiveness field testing impulsive ability

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