title: Hand grip strength and anthropometric characteristics in Italian female national basketball teams.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of hand and body dimensions on hand grip strength and to define a reference scale for talent identification in basketball players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body and hand anthropometric data and the maximal handgrip strength of 109 female Italian basketball National players (Under14-Seniores) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Handgrip strength and arm length trend increased, raising the statistical significant differences only for players from the age of 19 (U20, Seniores) with respect to sub-elite groups (U14, U15) (P<0.05). Handgrip strength showed low positive correlations with height and Body Mass Index but a positive relationships with arm length (r=0.5; P<0.001). Findings underline training and years of practice have effects on increasing handgrip strength.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data show that to select female basketball players by arm length means selecting by handgrip strength. Thus it is possible to suggest that in addition to height, arm length could also be considered a useful parameter in young female talent identification.
authors.affiliation: Motor Science Research Center, School of Exercise and Sport Sciences (SUISM), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy - luisa.pizzigalli@unito.it.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pizzigalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Micheletti Cremasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: LA Torre
authors.affiliation: Motor Science Research Center, School of Exercise and Sport Sciences (SUISM), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rainoldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D056352:Athletes; D001490:Basketball / Q000502:physiology*; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult