Effects of Kettlebell Training on Handgrip Strength in Adult Women from San José de Cúcuta
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 12-week kettlebell training program on handgrip strength in adult women participating in community-based physical activity programs in the Buenos Aires neighborhood, San José de Cúcuta. A longitudinal quasi-experimental design with two non-equivalent groups was employed: an intervention group (n = 24) and a control group (n = 24). Handgrip strength, the primary outcome, was assessed using hand dynamometry in both the dominant and non-dominant hands before and after the intervention. After 12 weeks, the intervention group showed statistically significant increases in dominant handgrip strength (Δ = +1.8 kgf; p = 0.006; Cohen’s d = 0.58; 95% CI [0.18–0.98]) and non-dominant handgrip strength (Δ = +1.8 kgf; p = 0.013; d = 0.55; 95% CI [0.12–0.95]), whereas no meaningful changes were observed in the control group. Intergroup comparisons confirmed significant differences favoring the intervention group. These findings suggest that kettlebell training is an effective, low-cost, and feasible strategy for improving handgrip strength—a functional biomarker associated with health, independence, and quality of life—in adult women engaged in community physical activity programs.
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