Physical and Physiological Demands of Recreational Team Handball for Adult Untrained Men.

Susana C A Póvoas,Pedro Silva,Juan Tamames,Morten Bredsgaard Randers,Mariana Lopes,Carlo Castagna,Carlos Resende,André Seabra,Eduardo Filipe Coelho,Rute Santos,Peter Krustrup

doi:10.1155/2017/6204603

Abstract

Lack of motivation to exercise was reported as a major cause of sedentary behavior in adulthood. This descriptive study examines the acute physical and physiological demands of recreational team handball and evaluates whether it could be suggested as an exercise mode for fitness and health enhancement in 33–55-year-old untrained men. Time-motion, heart rate (HR), and blood lactate analyses were obtained from 4 recreational matches. Mean distance covered during the 60 min matches was 6012 ± 428 m. The players changed match activity 386 ± 70 times, of which high-intensity runs and unorthodox movements amounted to 59 ± 18 and 26 ± 26 per match, respectively. The most frequent highly demanding playing actions were jumps and throws. Match average and peak HR were 82 ± 6% and 93 ± 5% HRmax, respectively. Players exercised at intensities between 81 and 90% HRmax for 47% (28 ± 14 min) and >90% HRmax for 24% (14 ± 15 min) of total match time. Match average and peak blood lactate values were 3.6 ± 1.3 and 4.2 ± 1.2 mM, respectively. Recreational team handball is an intermittent high-intensity exercise mode with physical and physiological demands in the range of those found to have a positive effect on aerobic, anaerobic, and musculoskeletal fitness in adult individuals. Training studies considering recreational team handball as a health enhancing intervention are warranted.

Highlights

Exercise has been established as a cornerstone in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases [1] and physical activity (PA) primarily prevents, or delays, several chronic conditions [2]
Physical inactivity was shown to be responsible for 5.3 million deaths per year worldwide [5]; BioMed Research International it is of paramount importance to identify more types of exercise that can meet the PA guidelines, while keeping the participants motivated and, preferably assuring long-term adherence
Fewer studies have investigated the health effects of regular participation in a variety of team sports, which involve aerobic high-intensity training along with anaerobic training, including sprints and specific actions with a high impact on the musculoskeletal system [6]. Most of these studies have focused on recreational soccer played as small-sided games, showing a high aerobic component with mean heart rates (HR) of 80–85% of maximum HR (HRmax)

Summary

Introduction

Exercise has been established as a cornerstone in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases [1] and physical activity (PA) primarily prevents, or delays, several chronic conditions [2]. Fewer studies have investigated the health effects of regular participation in a variety of team sports, which involve aerobic high-intensity training along with anaerobic training, including sprints and specific actions with a high impact on the musculoskeletal system [6]. Most of these studies have focused on recreational soccer played as small-sided games, showing a high aerobic component with mean heart rates (HR) of 80–85% of maximum HR (HRmax). The activity profile includes multiple high-intensity runs, sprints, turns, jumps, and tackles, which provide high demands on the anaerobic metabolism and high impact on muscles and bones [7,8,9,10]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion