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. 2025 Jan 8;13(1):12. doi: 10.3390/sports13010012

Table 1.

Study characteristics: participants, types of sport, anthropometric characteristics, instruments, and mean and maximum impact force in newton (N) units of measurement.

Reference Study Design Participants Type of Sport Anthropometric Characteristics Instruments Main Results
Adamec et al., 2021 [32] Cross-sectional N = 50 (men = 29; women = 21);
Age: 34 years;
BH: 174 cm;
BM: 76 kg.
Karate. BH, BM. Force platform with cushioned target (DIRA). Fmax—Straight punch (4639 N).
Buśko et al., 2016 [33] Cross-sectional N = 13 men;
Age: 17.5 years;
BH: 175.5 cm;
BM: 69 kg.
Boxing. BH, BM. Boxing bag with load cell and an inserted gyroscope transducer (DIRA). Fmean—Cross (1592.5 ± 507.1 N).
Chadli et al., 2014 [34] Cross-sectional N = 11 (unknown gender);
Age: 23.5 ± 0.5 years;
BH: 179 ± 9 cm;
BM: 77.39 ± 11 kg.
Boxing. BH, BM. Target with an accelerometer and load cell inserted (DIRA). Fmean—Punch (989 ± 116.76 N).
Dunn et al., 2019 [35] Cross-sectional N = 15 men;
Age: 17.5 ± 0.5 years;
BH: 177.5 ± 9 cm;
BM: 73 ± 14 kg.
Boxing. BH, BM. Load cell inserted in the wall bag, with transducer and respective software (DIRA). Fmean—Jabs (841 ± 180 N); Cross (1818 ± 332 N); Hooks (2622 ± 288 N).
Dunn et al., 2022 [36] Cross-sectional N = 28 men;
Age: 19 ± 2 years;
BH: 177 ± 7.3 cm;
BM: 70.5 ± 11 kg.
Boxing. BH, BM. Load cell inserted in the wall bag, with transducer and respective software (DIRA). Fmean—Jab (823 ± 271 N); Cross (1830 ± 387 N); Lead-hand hook (2491 ± 492 N);
Rear-hand hook (2742 ± 571 N).
Dyson et al., 2005 [37] Cross-sectional N = 6 men;
Age: 24.5 ± 3.3 years;
BH: 182 ± 5 cm;
BM: 73.3 ± 19 kg.
Boxing. BH, BM. Load cell inserted in the boxing bag, with transducer and respective software (DIRA). Fmean—Cross (4236 ± 181 N); Jab (2722 ± 75 N).
Finlay, 2022 [38] Experimental N = 10 men;
Age: 19.7 ± 1.2 years;
BH: 180.9 ± 7.0 cm;
BM: 78.7 ± 9.6 kg.
Boxing. BH, BM. Force platform with cushioned target (DIRA). Fmax—Rear-hand hook (2673 N); Lead-hand hook (2565 N); Cross (2538 N).
Kim et al., 2018 [8] Quasi-experimental N = 15 men;
Age: 23.4 years;
BH: 176.5 cm;
BM: 67.7 kg.
Boxing. BH, BM. Tri-axial accelerometers inserted in the dummy’s head (DIRA). Fmax—Cross (2313 N).
Lee and McGill, 2017 [39] Quasi-experimental N = 12 men;
Age: 24.2 ± 2.9 years;
BH: 180 ± 5 cm;
BM: 76.8 ± 9.7 kg.
Muay Thai. BH, BM. Load cell inserted in the wall bag, with transducer and respective software (DIRA). Fmean—Jab (3093.7 ± 69.4 N); Cross (5008.6 ± 76.3 N); Knee (9482 ± 152.8 N).
Loturco et al., 2016 [14] Cross-sectional N = 15 (men = 9; women = 6);
Age: 25.9 ± 4.7 years;
BH: 172 ± 10 cm;
BM: 64.56 ± 12.1 kg.
Boxing. BH, BM. Force platform with cushioned target (DIRA). Fmean—Jab/men (1152.22 ± 246.87 N); Cross/men (1331.67 ± 234.49 N); Jab/women (902.50 ± 213.49 N); Cross/women (994.17 ± 221.14 N).
Neto et al., 2009 [40] Cross-sectional N = 12 (men = 10; women = 2);
Age: 23.4 years;
BH: 174.7 ± 4 cm;
BM: 70.9 ± 12 kg.
Kung Fu. BH, BM. Load cell inserted in the target, with transducer and respective software (DIRA). Fmax—Punch (1226 N).
Smith et al., 2000 [41] Cross-sectional N = 23 men;
Age: 23.1 ± 1.2 years;
BH: 178 ± 6 cm;
BM: 69.9 ± 8.6 kg.
Boxing. BH, BM. Target with a load cell specific to boxing and force transducer (DIRA). Fmean—Cross: elite (4800 ± 227 N), intermediate (3722 ± 133 N), beginner (2381 ± 116 N).
Smith, 2006 [9] Cross-sectional N = 29 (unknown gender);
Age: 21 ± 2 years;
BH: 174 ± 8 cm;
BM: 67 ± 10 kg.
Boxing. BH, BM. Target with a load cell specific to boxing and force transducer (DIRA). Fmean—Jab to the face (1722 ± 700 N), to the body (1682 ± 636 N); Cross to the face (2643 ± 1273 N), to the body (2646 ± 1083 N); Lead-hand hook to the face (2412 ± 813 N), to the body (2414 ± 718 N); Rear-hand hook to the face (2588 ± 1040 N), to the body (2555 ± 926 N).
V. A. de Souza and Marques, 2017 [42] Cross-sectional N = 8 men;
Age: 20.25 ± 4.13 years;
BH: 174 ± 4 cm;
BM: 72.4 ± 9.6 kg.
Karate. BH, BM. Target on a board with a lateral load cell, transducer, and respective software (DIRA). Fmax—Straight punch (1812.01 N).
V. de Souza and Marques, 2017 [43] Cross-sectional N = 8 men;
Age: 47.5 ± 10.13 years;
BH: 176 ± 3 cm;
BM: 86.8 ± 17 kg.
Karate. BH, BM. Target on a board with a lateral load cell, transducer, and respective software (DIRA). Fmean—Straight punch (2260.79 ± 538.44 N).
Walilko et al., 2005 [24] Cross-sectional N = 7 (unknown gender);
BM: 48–109 kg.
Boxing. BM. Accelerometer inserted in the dummy’s head and the participants’ gloves (DIRA and AL). Fmax—Straight punch (4741 N).
BM categories:
Flyweight (3914 N);
Light welterweight (3621 N);
Middleweight (3072 N);
Super heavyweight (4741 N).

DIRA = Direct inertia-relevant assessment; AL = Assessment on the athlete’s limb; BH: Body height; BM: Body mass; Jab = Straight punch with the lead hand; Cross = Straight punch with the rear hand; Fmax = Maximum punch force; Fmean = Mean punch force.