Study background: The trunk stability push-up (TSPU) is a closed-chain test that can measure upper-body functional strength, but may not relate to sport-specific performance. The bilateral medicine ball chest pass (MBCP) is a more sport-specific openchain assessment. This research investigated whether the TSPU related to bilateral MBCP to determine whether it was a valid test of team sport upper-body function. Methods: 32 male team sport athletes were assessed in the TSPU, and completed bilateral and unilateral MBCP with a 1-kilogram ball. Between-arm asymmetries were calculated for the unilateral MBCP. Participants were split into groups (high, intermediate, low) according to TSPU scores, and bilateral MBCP performance (smallest worthwhile change above or below group mean). This determined whether either test gave a clearer indication of upperbody function. Between-group differences were determined by a one-way analysis of variance (p<0.05), with Bonferroni post hoc. Data was pooled for a Spearman`s correlation analysis (p<0.05). Results: For the TSPU, 10 participants scored 3; 20 scored 2; 2 scored 1. When TSPU performance split the groups, the low performers had poorer bilateral and left-arm MBCP when compared to the high performers (p=0.005-0.016). When bilateral MBCP performance divided the sample, high performers (n=12) were superior in bilateral and unilateral MBCP, and the TSPU (p = 0.001-0.023), when compared to low performers (n=14). The high performers also had a better bilateral MBCP when compared to intermediate (n=6) performers (p=0.003). Between-arm asymmetries did not differentiate performance ability. Large-tovery large correlations were found between bilateral and unilateral MBCP. Conclusion: The bilateral MBCP is a more effective test of upperbody function than the TSPU, and can discriminate between athletes with different upper-body function. This assessment related to the unilateral MBCP and TSPU, indicating its applicability for team sports. Volltext auch unter: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259496941_Does_the_Trunk_Stability_Push-Up_Provide_an_Effective_Measure_of_Upper-Body_Function_Specific_to_Male_Team_Sport_Athletes
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