Effects of battle rope training on sporting performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of battle rope training (BRT) on upper-limb explosive power, lower-limb explosive power, grip strength, upper-limb muscular endurance, and core endurance. This study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement. PubMed, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, Scopus, EBSCO, and CNKI were systematically searched to identify controlled intervention studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Statistical analyses were conducted in R 4.5.0. Effect sizes were expressed as Hedges’ g, a standardised mean difference, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Pooled effects were estimated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were used to preliminarily explore the potential effects of training status, type of control condition, and intervention duration on the effects of BRT interventions. A total of 21 studies involving 590 participants aged 11–25 years were included. Sex was reported for 553 participants (433 males, 120 females), whereas it was not reported for the remaining 37 participants. Compared with control conditions, BRT significantly improved upper-limb explosive power (Hedges’ g = 1.59, 95% CI: 0.77–2.42, p = 0.001), grip strength (g = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.30–1.67, p = 0.011), upper-limb muscular endurance (g = 1.17, 95% CI: 0.04–2.30, p = 0.044), and core endurance (g = 1.67, 95% CI: 0.30–3.03, p = 0.016). The pooled effect of BRT on lower-limb explosive power did not reach statistical significance (g = 1.17, 95% CI: -0.21–2.55, p = 0.088). Subgroup analyses indicated that training status may moderate the effect of BRT on upper-limb explosive power. Training status and type of control condition may influence effects on upper-limb muscular endurance, while type of control condition may also influence effects on core endurance. BRT may improve upper-limb explosive power, grip strength, upper-limb muscular endurance, and core muscular endurance, whereas its effect on lower-limb explosive power remains uncertain. Given the substantial between-study heterogeneity and the exploratory nature of the subgroup analyses, the robustness of these findings requires further confirmation through additional research.