The Assessment of Hand Grip Strength and Rapid Weight Loss in Muay Thai Athletes

• Published in: Journal of exercise physiology online 2019-08, Vol.22 (4), p.130
• Main Authors: Ribas, Marcelo Romanovitch, Oliveira, Wallace Cardoso de, Souza, Hilton Hendges de, Ferreira, Samuel Cesar dos Santos, Walesko, Francisco, Bassan, Julio Cesar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: All terrain vehicles; Analysis; Athletes; Martial arts; Physical fitness; Time; Weight loss
• ISSN: 1097-9751; 1097-9751

Ribas MR, Oliveira WC, Souza HH, Ferreira SCS, Walesko F, Bassan JC. The Assessment of Hand Grip Strength and Rapid Weight Loss in Muay Thai Athletes. JEPonline 2019;22(4):130-141. The purpose of this study was to assess the hand grip strength in 20 Muay Thai athletes who used aggressive methods of weight loss before a competition. The 10 Muay Thai athletes at the black belt level were the subjects in this study. Their mean age was 27.7 [+ or -] 3.9 yrs. A dynamometer (Takei Physical Fitness Test) was used to assess their hand grip strength, which was measured at 3 time points: (a) before the competition; (b) during the official weighing day; and (c) after the competition. Reductions of 13.72% and 13.67% were observed in the hand grip strength for the right and left hands, respectively, in the period before the competition until the day of the official weighing (P=0.0001). When comparing the measurements obtained before and after the competition, a strength reduction of 6.55% was observed for the right hand and 4.55% for the left hand (P=0.0001). The findings indicate that rapid weight loss techniques used by the fighters had a negative impact on their strength performance, and it is possible that they did not present their maximum physical potential in the competition. Key Words: Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Weight Loss, Muscle Strength, Hand Strength