The Effect of Medicine Ball Training on Upper-Limb Muscle Power: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26858/cpjok.v18i2.720Keywords:
Medicine Ball Training; Upper-Limb Muscle Power; Explosive Strength; Sports Performance; Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
Medicine ball training has been widely implemented in strength and conditioning programs as an explosive resistance method to improve upper-limb muscle power and support sport-specific performance. However, comprehensive evidence regarding the effectiveness of various medicine ball training models remains limited and fragmented across different sports contexts. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically examine the effect of medicine ball training on upper-limb muscle power through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Literature searches were conducted through Google Scholar using the Publish or Perish application with relevant keywords related to medicine ball training and upper-limb muscle power. A total of 419 articles were initially identified, of which five studies met the predetermined inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The selected studies involved experimental and quasi-experimental designs across basketball, handball, soccer, and cricket contexts. The findings consistently showed that medicine ball training models, including medicine ball throw, scoop toss, pullover pass, and plyometric medicine ball exercises, significantly improved upper-limb muscle power, arm explosive strength, and sport-specific technical performance. Improvements were reflected in increased shooting performance, throw-in distance, free-throw accuracy, and throwing power. These effects were associated with enhanced neuromuscular coordination, rapid force production, and improved kinetic-chain integration. In conclusion, medicine ball training is an effective, practical, and evidence-based method for improving upper-limb muscle power. Nevertheless, further studies involving larger and more diverse samples are recommended to strengthen and expand these findings.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Rivan Adi Yohanda, Abdul Aziz Purnomo Shidiq, Novan Arum Nugroho, Rudi Ruhardi (Author)
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