Abstract
This 2023 study by Morenas-Aguilar et al., published in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, evaluated a new handball-specific strength test battery using a Functional Electromechanical Dynamometer (FEMD). The study tested 32 young handball players and found that a battery including standing lifts, unilateral throws, and step-forwards is highly reliable (ICC 0.70–0.85) and strongly correlates with on-court performance, specifically sprinting speed and throwing velocity.
Coaches can use these gym-based, specific tests to accurately predict and monitor a player's competitive performance. Because these tests mimic actual handball movements, they provide more relevant data for training programming than general strength exercises.