Reliabilityand validity of the medicine ball throw test in children and adolescents

The purpose of this study was to investigate the evidence regarding the reliability and validity of the medicine ball throw test when applied to children and adolescents. Systematic search was conducted in four electronic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and MEDLINE/PubMed) from their inception until November 2024. The meta-analysis of relative inter-session reliability synthesized data from nine studies using the intraclass correlation coefficient (n=293) and identified good test-retest reliability for the medicine ball throw test (ICC: 0.80; 95%CI [0.72-0.86]). When analysed separately, the standing chest medicine ball throw test (four studies; n=129) demonstrated fair test-retest reliability (ICC: 0.72; 95%CI [0.58-0.83]), while the seated chest medicine ball throw test (three studies; n=193) exhibited good test-retest reliability (ICC: 0.84; 95%CI [0.48-0.96]). Only three studies examined the relationship between the medicine ball throw test and other fitness measures. Various protocols are used to administer the medicine ball throw test in children and adolescents, with the seated chest medicine ball throw test proving to be particularly reliable due to its strong relative reliability. Although the medicine ball throw test demonstrates acceptable reliability, the limited investigation into its validity, particularly criterion validity, hinders definitive protocol recommendations.