Professional Handball Players Research Articles

Impact of the Mediterranean Diet on Athletic Performance, Muscle Strength, Body Composition, and Antioxidant Markers in Both Athletes and Non-Professional Athletes: A Systematic Review of Intervention Trials.

Background: The Mediterranean Diet (MD) has gained attention for its potential benefits in enhancing athletic performance and overall health. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effects of the MD on athletic performance, strength, body composition, and metabolic markers in both athletes and non-professional athletes. Methods: The review included seven studies with a total of 116 participants, ranging from professional handball players to non-professional strength athletes. The studies assessed various aspects of athletic performance, including strength, power, endurance, and body composition. Results: The main key findings from the review showed that MD may improve muscle endurance and power, as well as anaerobic performance in CrossFit athletes, and MD was associated with enhanced strength performance, including increased vertical jump height, hand grip strength, and shuttle run performance. The results on the impact on body composition were mixed, with some studies showing improvements in fat-free mass and skeletal muscle mass, while others found no significant changes. The MD also demonstrated positive effects on several markers, such as increased plasma total antioxidant activity and decreased markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Conclusions: In conclusion, while the MD seems to represent a viable dietary strategy for enhancing athletic performance and overall health, more rigorous studies are necessary to clarify its impact across diverse athletic populations.

Synthetic Grafts in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery in Professional Female Handball Players-A Viable Option?

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACR) rupture is a frequent injury in professional sports players. We conducted a retrospective cohort study, including 41 professional female handball players, undergoing ACR reconstruction surgery, using a Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS) graft (n = 12) or a Soft Tissue (ST) graft (n = 29). After return-to-play, the patients were asked to take a survey, reporting subjective and objective performance indexes before the injury and after return-to-play. Time from surgery to first practice and to return-to-play were significantly shorter in the LARS group (3.92 ± 1.14 vs. 6.93 ± 2.19 months, p < 0.001 and 4.71 ± 1.2 vs. 8.81 ± 2.9, respectively). While there was no difference between postoperative mean time on court, number of goals/match, number of matches played at 6 months return-to-play and 50 m, 100 m and gate-to-gate sprint times, there was a significantly greater increase in preoperative times in the ST group than in the LARS group (1.45 ± 1.05 s vs. 0.21 ± 0.58 s slower than preoperatively, p < 0.001 for 50 m; 1.09 ± 0.95 s vs. 0.08 ± 1 s, p = 0.01 for 100 m; 1.66 ± 1 s vs. 0.21 ± 0.66 s for gate-to-gate). In conclusion, LARS grafts provide a faster recovery time and better functional outcome, significantly impacting the performance of professional handball players.

Hip joint motion amplitude control based on exponential product formula

Background: Handball is a team sport, and during a game, there is a lot of direct squabbling and close contact between the players. Objective: The goal of the research is to determine how handball training affected several aspects of physical fitness. The study also investigates the relationship between playing handball, passive hip range of motion (ROM), and the development of radiologically detectable hip osteoarthritis (OA) in formerly elite handball players. The research employed the exponential product algorithm for evaluating bilateral radiographs to classify and diagnose hip OA. This technique most likely evaluated subchondral sclerosis, osteophyte formation, joint space narrowing, and other radiological signs of OA in the individuals’ hip joints. Methods: The relationship among the risk of hip OA in long-term top handball players is explored, as well as the connections among hip ROM, OA, and pain. The research was conducted using a sample size of 20 ex-professional handball players and 39 control subjects. Information on demographics, loading patterns during exercise, and history of lower limb joint injury were gathered via a questionnaire. The inclusion criteria for individuals consisted former professional handball players with significant elite-level competitive experience, as well as control subjects with no background of high-impact sports. Confounding characteristics such as age, gender, and previous lower limb joint injuries were carefully controlled for using extensive demographic and injury history evaluations. To identify and categorize hip OA, bilateral radiographs were analyzed using the exponential product algorithm. The goniometer was used to assess the bilateral passive hip ROM. Long-term participation in elite handball at a high level was found to have a strong correlation with the hip development of osteoarthritis (OA). Sixty percent of handball players had been identified with OA in at least one hip joint, compared to only thirteen percent of control patients. Results: Hip flexion and medial rotation in the handball players were significantly decreased, whereas abduction, extension, and lateral rotation were increased considerably compared to the control values. When doing daily activities, the hip joints of the handball players with OA were less painful than those of the OA-afflicted control participants. Retired handball players seem to be at a much higher risk than the general population for developing early hip OA. Conclusion: The repetitive nature of handball-specific movements may result in anomalies that are seldom seen in the general population, which makes diagnosing pain and discomfort a challenging diagnostic challenge for sports physicians.

Isometric Shoulder and Hip Strength Impact on Throwing Velocity and Reactive Strength.

The aim of the study is to examine relationships between shoulder extension-flexion and internal-external rotation strength of professional male handball players with throwing velocity, and the hip extension-flexion strength with horizontal and vertical reactive strength index. Fifteen professional male handball players participating in 1st League matches took part in the study. The results showed that isometric shoulder flexion and extension strength significantly predicted stable throwing velocity (r2=between 0.27-0.73) and dynamic throwing velocity (r2=between 0.30-0.62). In addition, isometric internal and external rotation strength significantly predicted stable throwing velocity (r2=between 0.32-0.54) and dynamic throwing velocity (r2=between 0.31-0.44). Moreover, isometric hip extension and flexion strength significantly predicted vertical reactive strength index (r2=between 0.31-0.45) and horizontal reactive strength index (r2=between 0.26-0.42). In conclusion, it was observed that shoulder strength has an enhancing effect on handball players' throwing velocity, while hip strength is a determining factor for the reactive strength index. In this context, it is assumed that shoulder weakness during throwing will affect the accuracy and velocity of throwing by disrupting the angular momentum, while weakness in the hip during the jump phase of the throwing motion will negatively affect the explosive power by limiting stabilization during landing.

Physiological profile of professional handball players regarding playing position

In the handball game players occupied specific position which requires unique physiological and physical attributes relating to technical and tactical requirements of each position in order to maximize sport performance on the court. The aim of this study was to quantify anthropometrical and physiological characteristics in elite Macedonian handball players and compare them regarding four different playing positions. In this study were included55handball players, different nationality, from RNM, participated in ergometry testing with Bruce protocol and body mass analysis with bioelectrical impedance analyzer, InBody 720. The players were divided in four groups according to playing position: wings (W), backs (B), pivots (P) and goalkeepers (G). Anthropometric parameters for all players were following: mean height was 186.3±7.1 cm, weight =85.37±13.7 kg, skeletal muscle mass (SMM) = 42.04 ± 6.2 kg; BMI = 24.54±2.8; BF%=13.4 ± 4.75 and WHR = 0.85± 0.06. Regarding the position, B/W/P/G for height were: 187.14 cm /180.0 cm/191.77 cm/186.8 cm; weight: 85.72 kg/72.67 kg/ 99.67 kg/85.33 kg; body fat percent: 12.26 %/11.92 %/16.3 %/14.7 %. The mean values for maximal oxygen consumption for B/W/P/G were 48.86/44.31/44.09/47.78 ml/kg/min. The BIA parameters of body composition in handball players regarding the playing position, showed statistically significant differences for all lean body mass parameters and obesity diagnose parameters, except for the body fat percent. According the cardio-physiological parameters derived from Bruce protocol handball players at different playing position had similar aerobic capacity.

The burdens of sitting on the bench – comparison of absolute and relative match physical load between handball players with high and low court time and implications for compensatory training

ABSTRACT Wearables quantify the activity in team sports and indicate that players experience peak physical loads during competitions. Accordingly, players with limited court time in competitions will miss important training stimuli. The present study aimed to quantify these gaps in physical load in professional handball players. Activity of all players competing in the 2021/2022 Bundesliga (Germany) was tracked using Kinexon LPS sensors. Gaps in physical load were quantified comparing the 25% of appearances with the highest (HIGH; 51.8 ± 5.2 mins) and lowest court times (LOW; 10.1 ± 4.3 mins). Distances, accumulated acceleration, jumps, sprints, impacts, accelerations, and decelerations were analysed as absolute and relative (per minute) outcomes. Players were grouped into wings, backcourts, and pivots. Unpaired t-tests between HIGH and LOW were performed (p < .05), and effect sizes were calculated (Cohen´s d). Analyses revealed significant effects of court time on activity. While absolute activity increased for HIGH, relative activity increased for LOW (p < .05). In addition, effect sizes revealed position-specific gaps in physical load, particularly for acyclic activities (jumps, accelerations). Gaps in physical load resulting from limited court time are highly position-specific. Our observations may provide benchmarks for the position-specific calibration of compensatory training.

Risk factors for shoulder injury in professional male handball players: A systematic review

Handball is a globally popular and physically demanding sport that requires high-intensity intermittent activities, with a particular emphasis on frequent ball throwing or shooting. The primary aim of this systematic review was to identify the risk factors for shoulder injuries in professional male handball players. The secondary aim is to propose preventive measures for reducing shoulder injuries in professional or elite handball players. This study followed the guidelines provided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were used to identify relevant studies. Only 8 studies met the eligibility requirements and were incorporated into the review. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) was assessed for the methodological quality of studies. Seven of the total eight studies were considered moderate quality, however, only one study was considered low quality. Based on this review findings, the following risk factors for shoulder injury are prominent among professional and elite male handball players. The primary factors for eventual shoulder injury are shoulder muscle imbalances, range of motion (ROM) discrepancies, glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD), and scapular dyskinesis. Also, in one study authors specified player position as a potential risk factor.

Analysis of Sociodemographic–and Sport-Factors as Correlates of Doping Tendency in Professional Handball Players

Factors associated with doping in sports are frequently studied, but sport specific, gender-stratified investigations are rare. This study aimed to evaluate sociodemographic and sport factors associated with doping tendency (DT) in professional handball players. The participants were handball professionals from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (n=173; 22.12±3.11 years of age, 64 females and 109 males) who were tested on sociodemographic variables (gender, age, education), sport factors (experience in sport, achievement at the junior and senior level), and doping factors (personal opinion on the problem of doping, doping knowledge, and personal DT). Logistic regressions with sociodemographic- and sport-factors as predictors were calculated for binarized outcome (positive DT vs. negative DT). A greater likelihood of having a positive DT was found for males than for females (OR=1.60, 95% CI: 1.16-2.12) and for those who achieved success at the junior level (OR=1.21, 95% CI: 1.02- 1.95). Among females, positive DT increased with experience in handball (OR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.11-1.55). Male players who achieved better competitive/sport results at a younger age were more prone to doping (OR=1.50, 95% CI: 1.21-1.83). While a greater tendency toward doping in males might be expected due to sociocultural factors, the gender-specific associations indicated specific factors that must be noted in the development of anti-doping strategies in this sport.

Zinc transporters expression profile in professional handball players supplemented with zinc

IntroductionZinc (Zn) deficiency has been described not only on general human health but also within the sports context –as negatively affecting performance–. Thus, Zn status assessment is of great interest for athletes, especially in order to correct deficiency states of this mineral. ObjectiveThe overall objective of this work was to assess Zn status in professional handball players during the competitive period (through plasma levels, dietary intake and gene expression of the Zn transporters), as well as to determine the effect of Zn supplementation. MethodsA total of twenty-two participants were recruited, –twelve belonged to the Control Group (CG) and ten male handball players comprised the experimental group (ATH-G)–, being monitored over a 2-month period with 2 evaluation moments: baseline (i.e., initial conditions) and follow-up (i.e., after 8 weeks of training and competition). Zn intake, plasma Zn levels, and gene expression of Zn transporters were obtained. ResultsPlasma Zn levels were higher in ATH-G than in CG at the end of Zn intervention (p ≤ 0.010). Moreover, differences in the gene expression profile of Zn transporters were observed in ATH-G –with the down-regulation of several Zn transporters–, compared to the CG at baseline (p ≤ 0.05). Likewise, differences in the Zn transporters expression were observed in ATH-G at 8 weeks (all, p ≤ 0.001) –with ZnT2, ZnT5, ZIP3, ZIP5, ZIP11, ZIP13 and ZIP14 transporters being up-regulated–. ConclusionHandball players seemed to have different nutritional needs for Zn, with differences in the gene expression of Zn transporters compared to controls. Zn intervention in our athletes may have influenced the expression of Zn transporters, indicating a potential increase in Zn transporters expression to mobilize Zn at the cellular level at 8 weeks of Zn intervention.

Vertical jump neuromuscular performance of professional female handball players-starters vs. non-starters comparison.

Given the complex nature of the handball as a game, players are required to possess a distinct set of physical and physiological attributes to attain peak performance. With the countermovement vertical jump (CVJ) being widely implemented as a non-invasive and time-efficient testing modality in sports settings, the purpose of the present study was twofold: (a) to establish a CVJ profile of professional female handball players and (b) to examine differences in force-time metrics between starters and non-starters. Forty-two professional female handball players (e.g., SuperLeague) volunteered to participate in this study. Each athlete performed three maximum-effort CVJs with no arm swing while standing on a uni-axial force plate system sampling at 1,000 Hz. Independent t-tests were used to examine differences in each variable between starters and non-starters. The results revealed that starters attained superior performance within the eccentric phase of the CVJ when compared to non-starters, particularly in terms of eccentric peak velocity (-0.957 ± 0.242 vs. -0.794 ± 0.177 m·s-1), eccentric mean power (320.0 ± 77.7 vs. 267.1 ± 75.2 W), and eccentric peak power (929.0 ± 388.1 vs. 684.4 ± 214.2 W). While not reaching the level of statistical significance, moderate-to-large effect sizes were observed for concentric impulse, peak velocity, and mean and peak force and power, all in favor of players included in the starting lineup (g = 0.439-0.655). Overall, these findings suggest that at the top-tier level of handball competition, the ability to secure a spot in a starting lineup may be possibly influenced by the athlete's eccentric performance capabilities. Thus, the development of lower-body eccentric strength and power may positively impact on-court athlete performance and ultimately help the team secure the desired game outcome.

Effect of Step Load Based on Time under Tension in Hypoxia on the ACL Pre-Operative Rehabilitation and Hormone Levels: A Case Study.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of step load in hypoxia on the effectiveness of preoperative rehabilitation (PR) and hormone levels based on a case study. Introduction: We assessed the impact of variables such as rate of movement and time under tension (TUT) in normobaric hypoxia on the levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and erythropoietin (EPO). Additionally, the impact of step load on the hypertrophy and strength of knee extensors and flexors was assessed. Methods: The work uses a case study, the research subject of which was a 23-year-old female professional handball player. The tests included an isokinetic assessment of the peak torque of knee extensors and flexors as well as body composition analysis. Results: The results showed a more than (10.81-fold) increase in GH after the microcycle with time under tension (TUT). The deficit between the lower limbs was also reduced. Conclusions: Using a hypoxic environment based on an appropriate altitude, combined with changes such as a short rest break between sets and a controlled tempo of movement with an eccentric phase, TUT may offer an alternative to the PR process, especially among athletes who care about fast RTS.

Efeitos de um programa baseado em hang power clean na habilidade de salto de uma equipe profissional feminina de handebol

Coaches use olympic exercise training to improve the power generation of athletes, as it has a high potential to increase the ratio of force development, and thus, sports performance. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of an intervention using the hang power clean in elite female handball players. Fifteen players from the same team participated, who competed in the Spanish first division (DHF guerreras Iberdrola) during the 2021-2022 season (age: 25.2 ±2.4 years, weight: 70.4 ±7.9 kg, height: 171.2 ±5.3 cm). The players were evaluated both at the beginning and at the end of the 6-week intervention, in two types of vertical jump: Abalakov and Double contact jump. The results showed significant improvements from pre- to post-test in all the variables analyzed, with the exception of those related to starting speed. This information seems to indicate that a short training program in which hang power clean work is emphasized could increase the vertical jump capacity of professional handball players, as well as improve their muscular stiffness. The results found can be extrapolated to other female athletes in which the force management requirements are similar.

Competitive profile analysis according to playing positions of female handball players during the European Championship 2020

ABSTRACT Handball is one of the most popular team sports and requires the correct analysis of players’ physical condition for its development, especially in women´s handball. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse for the first time the competitive demands of professional handball players during the EHF Championship 2020, using the innovative Local Positioning System (LPS) technology. In order to achieve this goal, 231 female players from 16 national teams were analysed during 47 matches using LPS and a specific handball analytic system developed for this purpose. Players covered more distance in the offensive phase (1205.6 ± 636.7 m) and in all locomotion categories, with the exception of high intensity running, than in the defensive phase (834.2 ± 471.5 m), with a similar average total time on court. The running pace was significantly higher in attack (56.0 ± 26.2 m/min) than in defence (39.2 ± 19.8 m/min). Regarding playing positions, wing players covered higher distances in the high intensity categories than the rest of the playing positions. It could be concluded that the training workload of elite handball players should be programmed according to specific positions.

Ligament Injuries in Professional Male Handball Players: A 6-Year Longitudinal Study.

Handball is a sport that involves high-intensity actions throughout the game, such as sprints, jumps, landings, and high-speed, repeated throws. This, along with competitive and tactical factors, congested schedules, and the need to maintain a high level of performance throughout the season, contributes to a high injury rate. This study aimed to analyse ligament injuries in a professional handball team over six consecutive seasons. A total of 68 elite male Spanish handball players participated, with 54 time-loss injuries (i.e., injuries involving at least one day of absence) observed during this study period. Ligament injury information was recorded following the International Olympic Committee consensus statement. The overall incidence was 0.89 ligament injuries per 1000 h of exposure. Additionally, a higher incidence and burden of ligament injuries was observed during match-play compared to training. Most ligament injuries were classified as minor or moderate (i.e., 79.63% of the total), and 46.29% were reinjuries. A significantly higher incidence of ligament injuries was suffered in the lower limbs compared to the upper limbs (0.81 vs. 0.08 ligament injuries per 1000 h; p < 0.001). Specifically, the highest incidence was observed in the anterior talofibular ligament of the ankle (0.57 injuries per 1000 h of exposure), while the greatest burden was related to the anterior cruciate ligament (24.08 absence days per 1000 h of exposure). This study provides an overview of ligament injuries among professional handball players, highlighting the need to implement strategies with positive effects during competition (e.g., specific activation strategies or training programmes based on strength and balance) and to reduce injury recurrences.

Cardiorespiratory Markers Relate to Change-of-Direction Performance During Incremental Endurance Tests and Friendly Matches in Professional Male Handball Players.

To compare the standard Yo-Yo intermittent recovery (IR) test and an agility Yo-Yo IR test with a higher number of change-of-direction movements to cardiorespiratory match performance. The study included 11 professional male handball players (age 24.5 [4.6]y) of a German second-league team. The performance parameters of the players of the seasons 2016-17 to 2018-19 were analyzed. The Yo-Yo IR test was compared to a Yo-Yo IR test with multiple multidirectional changes of direction in response to visual stimuli, which was conducted on a SpeedCourt (Yo-Yo SC IR). Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak)and maximum heart rate (HRmax) were measured. Between-methods differences of individual athletes were quantified with Bland-Altman plots. HRmax was not statistically different during the Yo-Yo SC IR test compared to the Yo-Yo IR test (181 [10] vs 188 [8]beats·min-1; P = .16). Agreement between the 2 tests was moderate for HRmax and good for heart rates >180beats·min-1. Mean average VO2peak was 51.7 (3.9) and 50.9 (2.8)mL·min-1·kg-1 for the Yo-Yo SC IR test and the Yo-Yo IR test (P = .693), respectively. A Yo-Yo test with multidirectional changes of direction in response to visual stimuli yielded good agreement with the frequently used linear running tests and can be used to assess players' VO2peak. The HRmax achieved during this test should be used with caution.

Test-Retest Reliability of 3 Specific Strength Tests in Professional Handball Players.

Current devices to assess strength performance in handball may not be sufficiently sports-specific and reliable methods. Functional electromechanical dynamometry is a new technology that allows the development of accurate strength tests in athletes. To determine the absolute and relative reliability and to compare the reliability of the right and left side, and mean and peak force of 3 specific strength tests in handball players with a functional electromechanical dynamometer: unilateral pullover, standing lift, and step forward. Fourteen male handball players of the first Spanish division (28.79 [4.81]y; 10.38 [4.63]y of professional experience) performed a repeated-measurement design. Three testing sessions were performed (one per week). The first measurement consisted of 4 isometric tests (right and left unilateral pullover, and right and left standing lift) to obtain isometric peak force, and in the second and third sessions, 6 incremental tests until failure (right and left unilateral pullover, and right and left standing lift, right and left step forward) were performed. The tests provided high reliability or acceptable reliability for mean and peak strength of unilateral pullover, standing lift and step forward (intraclass correlation coefficient = .83-.97; coefficient of variation = 3.90-11.57). Effect side was negligible in any of the parameters, except for a small effect side in the left peak force for unilateral pullover and a small effect side on the left side for a step forward. Significant differences in reliability (coefficient of variation ratio > 1.15) were found between the right and left sides and peak and mean force in all exercises except peak force in unilateral pullover and step forward. These results confirm that the tests could be applied to assess physical performance in handball at the same time as regular gym training. Moreover, this is an excellent opportunity to individualize the player's weekly load.

The Influence of Morphological Characteristics on the Ball Throwing Velocity in the Professional Handball Players

The Influence of Morphological Characteristics on the Ball Throwing Velocity in the Professional Handball Players

Vortex formation time in female athletes

Regular, vigorous physical activity can have a significant impact on cardiac function, leading to cardiac morphological alterations that may be challenging to distinguish from pathological changes. Therefore, new screening methods are needed to accurately differentiate between adaptive changes and pathological alterations in athletes. Vortex formation time (VFT) is an emerging method that shows potential in this regard, as it involves the formation of a rotating vortex ring in the left ventricle during the early filling phase of diastole. In this study, we investigated the difference in VFT between two groups of women: professional handball players and healthy middle-aged female athletes, along with their corresponding control groups. By using echocardiography-Doppler analysis of the heart, VFT was calculated based on the left ventricular ejection fraction, the ratio between the end-diastolic volume and the diameter of the mitral annulus, and the ratio of the atrial contraction volume to the total inflow via the mitral valve. The study reveals a significant increase in VFT in both professional handball players and middle-aged female athletes compared to their respective control groups. Moreover, statistically significant differences between handball players and middle-aged female athletes were observed, indicating that the level of physical activity may affect the VFT. These results suggest that VFT could be a promising screening tool for identifying cardiac adaptations due to long-term vigorous training, potentially enabling more accurate diagnoses of cardiac morphological alterations in athletes.Graphical abstractRepresentation of the graphical abstract of the conducted research

Impact of Paleo Diet on Body Composition, Carbohydrate and Fat Metabolism of Professional Handball Players.

The Paleo diet (PD) involves a restriction of carbohydrates and increased fat content (35% energy from carbohydrates, 35% energy from fats and 30% energy from protein). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the PD on body composition, concentration of carbohydrates and lipids, as well as insulin, irisin, adiponectin and leptin in the blood. A total of 25 handball players were assigned to two groups: 14 in the experimental group (PD) and 11 in the control group (CD), using a PD and a rational diet, respectively. Analysis of body mass and body composition (body mass index, fat mass, lean body mass, fat-free mass, muscle mass, bone mineral content and bone mineral density), as well as blood concentration of metabolism markers (glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, non-HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, irisin, adiponectin and leptin), were determined at the beginning and after 4 and 8 weeks of nutritional intervention. Body mass was lower (p < 0.01), and adiponectin blood concentration was higher (p = 0.03) in the PD group at the end of the intervention. There were no changes (p ≥ 0.05) in body composition and blood levels of other biochemical markers in either group.

Effect of Deep Stabilization System Training on the Shot Velocity in Professional Female Handball Players: Cross-sectional Study

The muscles of the deep stabilization system (DSS) affect spinal stabilization, and correct muscular coordination as a prerequisite for a centered position of the joints with optimal biomechanics of movement. Its stimulation by special exercises might lead to better performance in sports. The study verifies the effect of an 8-week intervention to activate DSS on the shot speed in a group of 15 adult elite female handball players. 30 participants were distributed to either the Control group (CG) or the Experimental group (EG). The EG involved special blocks with exercises activating DSS included in regular handball training. The CG involved only casual training. Input and output measurements included shot velocity assessment from various positions with a Stalker Sports Radar Gun. Mann-Whitney U-test was utilized for the statistical analysis with a 0.05 level of significance. The experiment showed a significant speed increase for all three tested throws. Speed increased by 3.82% for a one-handed overhead shot from the ground from a distance of 7m (free throw), 2.23% for a one-handed overhead shot from the ground after a run-up from a distance of 9m, and 2.23% for a one-handed overhead shot from a jump from a distance of 9 m by 2.38%. Specific activation exercises of DSS of the spine led to increased shot speed in handball.