Thrower's Ten Versus Conventional Conditioning in Amateur Discus Throwers
August 25, 2026 updated by: Mohamed Sahal, Saveetha University
Association of Thrower's Ten Conditioning With Changes in Throwing Distance and Shoulder Strength in Amateur Male Discus Throwers: a Retrospective Cohort Study
This retrospective observational study compares the association of Thrower's Ten training and conventional conditioning with throwing performance and shoulder muscle strength in amateur male discus throwers.
The study uses previously completed training and performance records from athletes who participated in one of two conditioning programmes.
Throwing distance and shoulder muscle strength were assessed at baseline, during the training period, and at the end of the training period.
The primary outcome is change in discus-throwing distance.
Secondary outcomes include changes in shoulder muscle strength.
The study aims to determine whether athletes who participated in the Thrower's Ten programme showed different changes in throwing performance and shoulder strength compared with athletes who participated in conventional conditioning.
Study Overview
Status
Completed
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Detailed Description
This is a retrospective observational comparative study evaluating previously completed training records of amateur male discus throwers. The study compares athletes who participated in a Thrower's Ten-based conditioning programme with athletes who participated in conventional conditioning. Participant allocation to the training programmes was not performed prospectively according to a research randomization protocol; programme assignment was primarily related to scheduling and facility availability.
The analysis includes athletes for whom complete records were available for the relevant assessment time points. The primary outcome is discus-throwing distance. Secondary outcomes comprise shoulder muscle strength measured using manual muscle testing. Outcome assessments were available at baseline and subsequent assessment points during the training period, including the end-of-training assessment.
The primary analysis evaluates differences in the pattern of change over time between the two training groups using a mixed-design analysis of variance, with the time-by-group interaction representing the principal longitudinal comparison. Multiple outcomes were considered and a Bonferroni-adjusted significance threshold was applied. Difference-in-change estimates and confidence intervals were also calculated. Exploratory covariate-adjusted sensitivity analyses were performed for selected outcomes.
Because the study is based on previously completed records, the findings represent associations between participation in the respective training programmes and changes in throwing performance and shoulder strength. The study does not establish that the Thrower's Ten exercise content alone caused the observed differences. Differences in programme progression and unmeasured training factors, including throwing volume, may have contributed to the observed results.
The study is intended to provide preliminary evidence regarding the relationship between a structured Thrower's Ten-based conditioning programme and performance-related outcomes in amateur male discus throwers and to inform future prospective controlled studies.
Study Type
Observational
Enrollment (Actual)
32
Contacts and Locations
This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.
Study Locations
-
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Tamil Nadu
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Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 602105
- Saveetha Medical College and Hospital [SMCH]
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Participation Criteria
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Sampling Method
Non-Probability Sample
Study Population
Amateur male discus throwers aged 18-25 years whose previously completed training and performance records were available for retrospective analysis.
Participants belonged to either the Thrower's Ten conditioning cohort or the conventional conditioning cohort.
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male amateur discus throwers aged 18-25 years.
- Participants who participated in either the Thrower's Ten conditioning programme or the conventional conditioning programme.
- Participants with the required baseline, Week 4, and Week 8 outcome records available for analysis.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants with incomplete outcome records required for the analysis.
- Participants who did not complete the required training programme or assessment schedule.
Study Plan
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
How is the study designed?
Design Details
Cohorts and Interventions
Group / Cohort |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Thrower's Ten Conditioning Group
Amateur male discus throwers who participated in the Thrower's Ten-based conditioning programme.
The cohort was identified retrospectively from previously completed training records.
Outcomes included discus-throwing distance and shoulder muscle strength assessed at the available study time points.
|
An 8-week Thrower's Ten conditioning program for amateur male discus throwers, consisting of supervised shoulder strengthening and flexibility exercises performed 3 sessions per week for 30 minutes per session.
The program was based on the Thrower's Ten exercise series and incorporated progressive resistance during the training period.
The program was administered as part of the athletes' routine conditioning.
|
|
Conventional Conditioning Group
Amateur male discus throwers who participated in the conventional conditioning programme.
The cohort was identified retrospectively from previously completed training records.
Outcomes included discus-throwing distance and shoulder muscle strength assessed at the available study time points.
|
An 8-week conventional conditioning program consisting of shoulder strengthening and flexibility exercises, including prone horizontal abduction, horizontal abduction at 90° external rotation, side-lying external rotation, standing row, military press, towel stretch, crossover arm stretch, and sleeper stretch.
Training was performed 3 sessions per week for 30 minutes per session.
Progression in the conventional cohort was determined at the discretion of the trainer.
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What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Discus-Throwing Distance
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, and Week 8
|
Discus-throwing distance measured in metres.
Athletes performed three legal discus throws following a standardised warm-up, with 1-2 minutes of rest between attempts.
The longest valid throw was recorded.
Two trained evaluators independently identified the initial ground-contact point and measured the throwing distance using a standard measuring tape.
|
Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, and Week 8
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Isometric Shoulder Flexor Muscle Strength
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, and Week 8
|
Isometric shoulder flexor muscle strength measured using the Modified Sphygmomanometer Test (MST).
Strength was assessed by a trained assessor and recorded in mmHg.
|
Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, and Week 8
|
|
Isometric Shoulder Extensor Muscle Strength
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, and Week 8
|
Isometric shoulder extensor muscle strength measured using the Modified Sphygmomanometer Test (MST).
Strength was assessed by a trained assessor and recorded in mmHg.
|
Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, and Week 8
|
|
Isometric Shoulder Abductor Muscle Strength
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, and Week 8
|
Isometric shoulder abductor muscle strength measured using the Modified Sphygmomanometer Test (MST).
Strength was assessed by a trained assessor and recorded in mmHg.
|
Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, and Week 8
|
|
Isometric Shoulder Internal Rotator Muscle Strength
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, and Week 8
|
Isometric shoulder internal rotator muscle strength measured using the Modified Sphygmomanometer Test (MST).
Strength was assessed by a trained assessor and recorded in mmHg.
|
Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, and Week 8
|
|
Isometric Shoulder External Rotator Muscle Strength
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, and Week 8
|
Isometric shoulder external rotator muscle strength measured using the Modified Sphygmomanometer Test (MST).
Strength was assessed by a trained assessor and recorded in mmHg.
|
Baseline (Week 0), Week 4, and Week 8
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Sponsor
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Shenbaga Sundaram Subramanian, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Publications and helpful links
The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.
General Publications
- von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, Pocock SJ, Gotzsche PC, Vandenbroucke JP; STROBE Initiative. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement: guidelines for reporting observational studies. PLoS Med. 2007 Oct 16;4(10):e296. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0040296.
- Souza LA, Martins JC, Moura JB, Teixeira-Salmela LF, De Paula FV, Faria CD. Assessment of muscular strength with the modified sphygmomanometer test: what is the best method and source of outcome values? Braz J Phys Ther. 2014 Mar-Apr;18(2):191-200. doi: 10.1590/s1413-35552012005000149.
- Gokalp O, Kirmizigil B. Effects of Thrower's Ten exercises on upper extremity performance: A randomized controlled study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Oct 16;99(42):e22837. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000022837.
- Brito SAF, Santana MM, Benfica PDA, Aguiar LT, Gomes GC, Faria CDCM. The modified sphygmomanometer test for assessment of muscle strength of community-dwelling older adults in clinical practice: reliability and validity. Disabil Rehabil. 2022 Jan;44(1):131-138. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1758804. Epub 2020 May 12.
- Zaras N, Stasinaki AN, Terzis G. Biological Determinants of Track and Field Throwing Performance. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2021 May 7;6(2):40. doi: 10.3390/jfmk6020040.
- Leigh S, Yu B. The associations of selected technical parameters with discus throwing performance: a cross-sectional study. Sports Biomech. 2007 Sep;6(3):269-84. doi: 10.1080/14763140701489744.
- Bartlett RM. The biomechanics of the discus throw: a review. J Sports Sci. 1992 Oct;10(5):467-510. doi: 10.1080/02640419208729944.
- Wilk KE, Yenchak AJ, Arrigo CA, Andrews JR. The Advanced Throwers Ten Exercise Program: a new exercise series for enhanced dynamic shoulder control in the overhead throwing athlete. Phys Sportsmed. 2011 Nov;39(4):90-7. doi: 10.3810/psm.2011.11.1943.
Study record dates
These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
September 1, 2025
Primary Completion (Actual)
September 27, 2025
Study Completion (Actual)
October 20, 2025
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
August 19, 2026
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 19, 2026
First Posted (Actual)
August 25, 2026
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
August 27, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 25, 2026
Last Verified
August 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Other Study ID Numbers
- 028/10/2024/ISRB/UGSR/SCPT
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
NO
IPD Plan Description
Individual participant-level data will not be shared publicly because the study involves retrospective analysis of participant records and sharing individual-level data may compromise participant confidentiality and privacy.
De-identified aggregate results are reported in the manuscript.
Data may be made available in accordance with institutional policies and applicable ethical and data-protection requirements upon reasonable request.
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
No
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