Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the neuromuscular profile of handball (TH) players during a short-term condensed competition. Nine TH athletes (age: 23 ± 3 years; height: 176.2 ± 10.5 cm; mass: 75.3 ± 8.6 kg) played 5 handball matches in 5 consecutive days and had exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) markers such as soreness (SOR), thigh circumference (CIR), knee range of motion (ROM) and countermovement jump height (CMJ) collected before the first match and at the end of each day of competition. Changes over time in these markers were analyzed. Significant changes were found for all EIMD markers assessed. CMJ significantly decreased at the fourth day of competition when compared to baseline (0.41 ± 0.03 m vs. 0.45 ± 0.02 m). ROM decreased on the first day of competition and remained stable until the last day of competition (baseline: 126.5 ± 7.2o; 1st day: 115.8 ± 5.9o; 2nd day: 115 ± 7o; 3rd day: 113.9 ± 8.8o; 4th day: 114.4 ± 8.6o). SOR and CIR were increased at the second day of competition and remained altered thereafter. It was concluded that the characteristics of short-term condensed competition have led TH athletes to significant EIMD. If not avoided, EIMD might lead to reductions in performance in the most important (final) matches.
Highlights
Handball (TH) is a collective sport based on characteristics like court invasion, opposition between opponent players and collaboration between players of the same team, which are determinant to its unpredictable and complex scenario[1]
Values obtained at the second (Md = 8 cm; IQR = 7 cm), third (Md = 5 cm; IQR = 13 cm) and fourth (Md = 8 cm; IQR = 17 cm) days of competition were significantly greater (p < 0.05) than baseline values (Md = 0 cm; IQR = 0 cm) and those obtained at the first day of competition (Md = 0 cm; IQR = 1 cm)
The aim of our study was to assess the neuromuscular profile of TH athletes during a condensate, short-term, competition, testing the hypothesis that exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) would compromise athletic performance by altering four markers that are related to strength and technical performance
Summary
Handball (TH) is a collective sport based on characteristics like court invasion, opposition between opponent players and collaboration between players of the same team, which are determinant to its unpredictable and complex scenario[1]. Players perform different technical or strategic-tactical elements to score a goal (in the offensive phase) or avoid it from the opponent team (in the defensive phase). The average heart rate obtained during matches was 139 bpm (72% of the maximal heart rate). These data support the knowledge that the oxidative metabolism is very important for TH players, aiding in optimal recovery in intervals between maximal efforts like sprints, jumps and throws. The two aforementioned studies described the efforts of TH players based on spatial analysis during matches, ignoring that, even while athletes are stationary, they usually perform maximal or nearmaximal strength in struggles for space with opponents and/or marking and blocking. Ignored by spatial analysis, explosive actions are of paramount for performance in TH
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