Effects of Kettlebell Swing Style and Mass on Female Hip Joint Kinetics.
Kasey M Murphy, Bryan L Riemann
PMID 39758692WHAT IT FOUND
Overhead kettlebell swings produced 42.1% greater peak hip power than shoulder-height swings.
Mass had fewer and smaller effects. Practitioners should consider increasing kettlebell mass before changing swing style.
Key findings
01Overhead swings produced 42.1% greater peak hip extension power compared to shoulder-height swings.
02Kettlebell mass had fewer and smaller magnitude changes on hip kinetics compared to swing style.
03Peak hip extension power was 34.1% greater with the 16kg kettlebell compared to the 12kg kettlebell.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only females, so results may not generalize to males. Participants were experienced CrossFit athletes, so findings may not apply to beginners or those with poor technique. Only 12kg and 16kg masses were tested, which may not have been heavy enough to elicit maximal power production in this trained group. Analysis was limited to the concentric (propulsion) phase of the swing, ignoring the eccentric (braking) phase which may have different demands.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the overhead swing is inherently superior for all patients. While it produces greater power, the shoulder-height swing elicits similar movement patterns with less mechanical demand, making it a safer progression step. Mass should be increased before style is changed.