Characteristics of functional movement screening testing in elite handball players: Indicative data from the 9

To test 9 + screening batterie's intra-rater reliability, to provide indicative data of elite handball players, and to analyze difference between age, playing positions and level of play.

Descriptive study.

Icelandic elite male handball players.

182 elite male handball players.

Nine + screening battery.

Reliability test: Intra-class correlation for the total score was 0.95. The correlation of each of the test factors varied from 0.63 to 0.91. The mean total score was 22.3 ± 2.9 (95%CI 16.7-28.1), with no difference in total score comparing players age or level of play. Goalkeepers displayed a higher total score than other players (F_3,151 = 5.75, p = 0.001). Junior players had a lower score than senior players in tests measuring abdominal strength and core stability; Test 5; │²(3, 182) = 41.5, p < 0.0001, Test 6; │²(3, 182) = 55.7, p < 0.0001, Test 7; │²(3, 182) = 11.8, p < 0.005, but higher scores in tests measuring trunk and shoulder mobility Test 8; │²(3, 182) = 18.2, p < 0.0001, Test 9; │²(3, 182) = 22.2, p = 0.006.

The 9+ intra-rater reliability was acceptable for the total score and individual tests. Age-related differences were provided in many individual tests.