Prediction of Upper-Body Power During the Seated Medicine Ball Throw in Older Women.

Parrino, RL, Strand, KL, San Ly, A, Barry, SS, Liscano, JA, Trebotich, L, Martin-Diala, C, Martin, E, and Signorile, JF. Prediction of Upper-body power during the seated medicine ball throw in older women. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2022-Upper-body power, the product of muscular strength and movement velocity, is a core measure used by clinicians and researchers alike, to assess functional independence in older persons. Nevertheless, the evaluation of upper-body power is often impractical due to prohibitive cost, as well as space, equipment, and technical demands. Therefore, this study was designed to establish a predictive equation for upper-body peak power (PPUB) using the seated medicine ball throw (SMBT). Thirty-five older women (75.2 6.4y) completed the SMBT and pneumatic resistance chest press peak power (CPPP) testing. A stepwise multiple regression was used to produce a predictive model using CPPP to assess PPUB. The model included SMBT distance (SMBTD) and medicine ball mass (MBMass) as significant predictors (PPUB[W] = 96.719·SMBTD [m] + 37.164·MBMass [kg]-104.499; r = 0.752; SEE = 41.41 W; p < 0.001). The performance of this model was confirmed through a cross-validation analysis using 70% (n = 23; r = 0.709; p < 0.001) and 30% (n = 12; r = 0.823; p < 0.001) of the sample. Reliability was confirmed using intraclass correlation, coefficient of variation, standard error of measurement, and Bland-Altman analyses for both MBMass. This model provides an easily accessible and reliable tool, using SMBTD and MBMass, for predicting PPUB in older women as a marker of quality of life, functional independence, and ability to complete activities of daily living.