Asigning variables from a mysql table

[Anon]

I have used myql for a while but i have always needed to display results from within tables.

What i want to do is use a table to assign a variable so i conect to the database.
And run a query like this.
$sqlquery = "SELECT * FROM mod WHERE ability = '$strength'";
$result = mysql_query($sqlquery);

Normally i would use a while loop and display the results. But i want to asign a integer value from the table to a new variable called $strengthmod.

That be a bit unclear so some extra info.
$strength is a numerical value from 1 - 30 inputed by a form.
I would like the variable to be useable right through my script.

If someone could help i would be most grateful. Thanks

[Anon]

Come on somebody help!
simply i want to access a table with one value say 20 and pull out its corosponding value say +5 and assign that to a variable.

Surely someone knows how to do this?