Effects of Accentuated Eccentric Versus Concentric Training in Fast Bowlers

Effects of Accentuated Eccentric Versus Concentric Training on Upper Arm Muscle Girth, Strength and Power in Fast Bowlers

Fast bowlers in cricket rely heavily on upper arm muscle strength, power, and endurance to deliver high-speed balls and prevent injury. Two primary training approaches, accentuated eccentric and concentric training, are widely used to enhance these physical attributes. Accentuated eccentric training focuses on the muscle-lengthening phase under increased loads, while concentric training emphasizes the muscle-shortening phase. This study aims to evaluate and compare the effects of these two training approaches on upper arm muscle girth, strength, and power, providing evidence-based guidance for optimizing fast bowlers' strength and conditioning programs.

This randomized clinical trial will investigate the effects of accentuated eccentric versus concentric training on upper arm muscle girth, strength, and power in 44 male fast bowlers aged 18-30 years, who have at least two years of bowling experience. Participants will be randomly assigned in to two groups: Group A, which will undergo an accentuated eccentric training program, and Group B, which will perform concentric-focused training. Both groups will participate in a structured 8-week training regimen with sessions three times per week. Baseline measurements for muscle girth, (measuring tape) strength, (via handheld dynamometer), and power, (measured by medicine ball throw) will be collected and compared with post-intervention assessments. Data will be analyzed using SPSS 26 software

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sports Physical Therapy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Accentuated Eccentric Training; Other: Handled dynamometer; Other: Concentric Training

Detailed Description

Design: Randomized clinical trials(RCT) Sample Size: will be calculated by using G-power/epi tool Sampling Technique: convienent and non- probability sampling Study Setting: The study will be conducted at a sports training facility PCB lahore Inclusion Criteria

• Male fast bowlers aged 18-30
• At least 2 years of bowling experience Exclusion Criteria
• Participants with any upper body musculoskeletal injuries within the last 6 months
• History of any chronic illness affecting physical performance
• Previously activily involved in eccentric or concentric training in the past year Tools

The primary tools for data collection will include:

Muscle girth measurement: Measuring tape for arm girth. Strength measurement: squat with 1RM Power measurement: Medicine ball throw test to assess upper body power output

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 44
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab Province
    • Chak Four Hundred Fifty-four, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 63100
      • Dring Stadium Bahawalpur

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male fast bowlers age 18-30 years (17)
• Bowlers having 2 years' experience of bowling (18)
• Participants should actively playing or training in fast bowling (19).
• Participants BMI must be between 18.5 and 25.5 Kg/m2 (20)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with any or chronic injury to the upper limbs, shoulder or back.
• Those who have undergone upper limb surgery within 12 months
• Participants involved any other concentric or strength training program.
• Participants with known cardiovascular or respiratory conditions will be excluded.
• Participants using performance enhancing substances will be excluded

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group A; This group will receive accentuated eccentric exercise training program	Other: Accentuated Eccentric Training; This group will receive accentuated eccentric exercise training program; Other: Handled dynamometer; A handheld dynamometer is a portable device used to measure muscle strength and force output. Commonly utilized in rehabilitation and sports science, it provides objective assessments of muscular strength in various body parts. By applying force against the dynamometer, clinicians can quantify strength levels accurately, track progress, and tailor training programs effectively
Experimental: Group B; This group will receive concentric exercise training program	Other: Handled dynamometer; A handheld dynamometer is a portable device used to measure muscle strength and force output. Commonly utilized in rehabilitation and sports science, it provides objective assessments of muscular strength in various body parts. By applying force against the dynamometer, clinicians can quantify strength levels accurately, track progress, and tailor training programs effectively; Other: Concentric Training; This group will receive concentric exercise training program

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measuring tape	A measuring tape is a flexible tool used to measure the circumference of body parts, commonly used in physical fitness, sports, and medical assessments. It is an ideal instrument for measuring muscle girth, such as the biceps, triceps, and other body areas, due to its flexibility and ease of use. Measuring tape provides accurate, reliable circumference measurements, enabling the assessment of muscle hypertrophy or body composition changes over time. It provides a direct measure of the circumference of the biceps and triceps at specified points (e.g., midway between the shoulder and elbow)	8 weeks
Handled dynamometer	A handheld dynamometer is a portable device used to measure muscle strength and force output. Commonly utilized in rehabilitation and sports science, it provides objective assessments of muscular strength in various body parts. By applying force against the dynamometer, clinicians can quantify strength levels accurately, track progress, and tailor training programs effectively	8 weeks
Medicine ball throw	The medicine ball throw is a dynamic test used to assess upper body power, specifically targeting the shoulders, chest, triceps, and core muscles. In this test, participants throw a weighted medicine ball (typically 3-5 kg) as far as possible from a standing or seated position. The throw is executed with an explosive pushing motion, similar to a chest pass in basketball, and the distance covered by the ball is measured. For male cricket players, excellent scores 6.0 meters, above-average scores range from 5.0 to 6.0 meters, average scores are between 4.0 and 5.0 meters, and below-average scores fall under 4.0 meters	8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Zainab Dilshad, MS-SPT, Riphah International

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Pote L, Christie CJ. Strength and Conditioning Practices of University and High School Level Cricket Coaches: A South African Context. J Strength Cond Res. 2016 Dec;30(12):3464-3470. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001432.
• Drury B, Ratel S, Clark CCT, Fernandes JFT, Moran J, Behm DG. Eccentric Resistance Training in Youth: Perspectives for Long-Term Athletic Development. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2019 Nov 28;4(4):70. doi: 10.3390/jfmk4040070.
• Drury B, Clarke H, Moran J, Fernandes JFT, Henry G, Behm DG. Eccentric Resistance Training in Youth: A Survey of Perceptions and Current Practices by Strength and Conditioning Coaches. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2021 Feb 18;6(1):21. doi: 10.3390/jfmk6010021.
• Moeskops S, Oliver JL, Read PJ, Haff GG, Myer GD, Lloyd RS. Effects of a 10-Month Neuromuscular Training Program on Strength, Power, Speed, and Vault Performance in Young Female Gymnasts. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2022 May 1;54(5):861-871. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002862. Epub 2022 Jan 24.
• Constable M, Wundersitz D, Bini R, Kingsley M. Quantification of the demands of cricket bowling and the relationship to injury risk: a systematic review. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2021 Sep 10;13(1):109. doi: 10.1186/s13102-021-00335-8.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 21, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 2, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): November 2, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 23, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 23, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 23, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Concentric training; Accentuated eccentric training; Fast bowlers
• Other Study ID Numbers: REC/RCR&AHS/24/0488

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No