Comparison of a Combined Strength and Handball-Specific Training vs. Isolated Strength Training in Handball Players Studying Physical Education

Abstract

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of combined resistance training including handball-specific drill (CRT) with resistance training excluding handball-specific drill training (NSDT).

Materials and methods Twenty-two male handball players who studied physical education were randomly assigned to two groups: CRT (combined resistance training with sport-specific drill; n = 12) and NSDT (resistance training without any sport-specific drill training; n = 10). Over a 10-week period during the competitive season, the players performed a specific training program twice per week, which replaced their normal team handball training. The CRT regimen consisted of a combined (associated) resistance training and handball-specific drill, whereas the NSDT program consisted of a resistance training without handball-specific drill (dissociated). Pre- and post-test measures included squat jump and countermovement jumps, bench press, back half squats, throwing velocity during a 3-step jump throw, and a jump shot, repeated-sprint ability (six 2 × 15-m shuttle sprints) (RSA), medicine ball throw and anthropometric measurements.

Results In both groups, significant intervention effects (d ≥ 1.0) were seen for all sprint (3/3), throwing (3/3) and jump (2/2) measures. Regarding maximal strength parameters, an effect size lower than 0.5 was only detected in the NSDT group for half back squats (d = 0.48). The largest effects were observed in the NSDT group for squat jump (d = 6.20) and medicine ball throw (d = 6.07). Interaction effects (group × time) were found for 50 % (5/10) of parameters. The greatest difference between groups regarding performance development over time was detected for jump shot (interaction effect: η² = 0.748). In contrast, there was no difference in performance development in both groups over time for RSA_best (interaction effect: η² = 0.025).

Conclusions The current findings suggest that during the competitive season, 10 weeks of CRT with only two training sessions per week improved numerous measures of athletic performance in handball students of physical education. Such conditioning should be highly recommended as part of the annual training program of handball players.

Zusammenfassung

Ziele Ziel der Studie war es, die Wirksamkeit von kombiniertem Kraft- und Handballtraining (CRT) zu vergleichen mit der Wirksamkeit eines isolierten Krafttrainings ohne Handballspezifik (NSDT).

Material und Methoden 22 Handballer, die gleichzeitig ein Sportstudium absolvierten, wurden randomisiert den 2 Gruppen zugeteilt: CRT (n = 12) und NSDT (n = 10). Der Interventionszeitraum von 10 Wochen befand sich in der Wettkampfphase. Hierbei absolvierten die Spieler anstelle ihres normalen Mannschaftshandballtrainings 2-mal wöchentlich ein spezielles Trainingsprogramm. Die Diagnostik fand unmittelbar vor und nach dem 10-wöchigen Training statt und beinhaltete eine Sprungdiagnostik (Squat jump, Countermovement jump), eine Kraftdiagnostik (bench press, half back squats), eine Wurfdiagnostik (Schlagwurf aus der Bewegung, Sprungwurf, Medizinballwurf) sowie eine Sprintdiagnostik (6-mal 2 × 15 m shuttle sprints).

Ergebnisse In beiden Gruppen ließen sich signifikante Interventionseffekte (d≥ 1,0) für alle Sprintparameter (3/3), Wurfparameter (3/3) und Sprungparameter (2/2) ermitteln. Bezüglich der Maximalkraftparameter fand sich nur für die Testübung half back squats in der Kontrollgruppe (NSDT) eine Effektgröße unter 0,5 (d = 0,48). Die größten Effekte konnten in der Kontrollgruppe für die Parameter Squat jump (d = 6,20) und Medizinballwurf (d = 6,07) berechnet werden. Interaktionseffekte (Gruppe × Zeit) ließen sich für 50 % (5/10) der untersuchten Parameter ermitteln. Der größte Interaktionseffekt fand sich für die Sprungwurfgeschwindigkeit (η² = 0,748). Im Gegensatz dazu ließ sich für den Parameter RSA_best (η² = 0,025) kein Interaktionseffekt berechnen.

Schlussfolgerung Die während der Saison erhobenen Studienergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass ein 2-maliges zusätzliches Krafttraining über einen Zeitraum von 10 Wochen die physische Leistungsfähigkeit von Handballern während des Sportstudiums erhöht. Insofern kann eine derartige Konditionierung im Rahmen des saisonalen Trainingsprogramms von professionellen Handballspielern empfohlen werden.

Key words

resistance training - specific drill - muscle power - throwing velocity

Schlüsselwörter

Krafttraining - Sportartspezifisches Training - Muskelleistung - Wurfgeschwindigkeit

• References

• 1 Dello Iacono A, Ardigo LP, Meckel Y. et al. Effect of small-sided games and repeated shuffle sprint training on physical performance in elite handball players. J Strength Cond Res 2016; 30: 830-840
• 2 Buchheit M, Lepretre PM, Behaegel AL. et al. Cardiorespiratory responses during running and sport-specific exercises in handball players. J Sci Med Sport 2009; 12: 399-405
• 3 Hermassi S, Chelly MS, Fieseler G. et al. Effects of in-season explosive strength training on maximal leg strength, jumping, sprinting, and intermittent aerobic performance in male handball athletes. Sportverletz Sportschaden 2017; 31: 167-173
• 4 Wagner H, Finkenzeller T, Wurth S. et al. Individual and team performance in team-handball: a review. J Sports Sci Med 2014; 13: 808-816
• 5 Sperlich B, De Marees M, Koehler K. et al. Effects of 5 weeks of high-intensity interval training vs. volume training in 14-year-old soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2011; 25: 1271-1278
• 6 Buchheit M, Laursen PB, Kuhnle J. et al. Game-based training in young elite handball players. Int J Sports Med 2009; 30: 251-258
• 7 Buchheit M, Mendez-Villanueva A, Delhomel G. et al. Improving repeated sprint ability in young elite soccer players: repeated shuttle sprints vs. explosive strength training. J Strength Cond Res 2010; 24: 2715-2722
• 8 Hermassi S, Ingebrigtsen J, Schwesig R. et al. Effects of in-season short-term aerobic and high-intensity interval training program on repeated sprint ability and jump performance in handball players. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2016; 16: 16
• 9 Harrison CB, Kilding AE, Gill ND. et al. Small-sided games for young athletes: is game specificity influential?. J Sports Sci 2014; 32: 336-344
• 10 Womersley J, Durnin JV. An experimental study on variability of measurements of skinfold thickness on young adults. Hum Biol 1973; 45: 281-292
• 11 Hermassi S, Chelly MS, Tabka Z. et al. Effects of 8-week in-season upper and lower limb heavy resistance training on the peak power, throwing velocity, and sprint performance of elite male handball players. J Strength Cond Res 2011; 25: 2424-2433
• 12 Chelly MS, Fathloun M, Cherif N. et al. Effects of a back squat training program on leg power, jump, and sprint performances in junior soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23: 2241-2249
• 13 Marques MC, Tillaar R, Vescovi JD. et al. Changes in strength and power performance in elite senior female professional volleyball players during the in-season: a case study. J Strength Cond Res 2008; 22: 1147-1155
• 14 Bortz J. Statistik für Sozialwissenschaftler. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer; 1999
• 15 Hartmann A, Herzog T, Drinkmann A. Psychotherapy of bulimia nervosa: what is effective? A meta-analysis. J Psychosom Res 1992; 36: 159-167
• 16 Chtara M, Chaouachi A, Levin GT. et al. Effect of concurrent endurance and circuit resistance training sequence on muscular strength and power development. J Strength Cond Res 2008; 22: 1037-1045
• 17 Gravelle BL, Blessing DL. Physiological adaptation in women concurrently training for strength and endurance. J Strength Cond Res 2000; 14: 5-13
• 18 Häkkinen A, Hannonen P, Nyman K. et al. Effects of concurrent strength and endurance training in women with early or longstanding rheumatoid arthritis: comparison with healthy subjects. Arthritis Rheum 2003; 49: 789-797
• 19 Gorostiaga EM, Izquierdo M, Iturralde P. et al. Effects of heavy resistance training on maximal and explosive force production, endurance and serum hormones in adolescent handball players. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1999; 80: 485-493
• 20 Hermassi S, van den Tillaar R, Khlifa R. et al. Comparison of in-season-specific resistance vs. a regular throwing training program on throwing velocity, anthropometry, and power performance in elite handball players. J Strength Cond Res 2015; 29: 2105-2114
• 21 Dudley GA, Djamil R. Incompatibility of endurance- and strength-training modes of exercise. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1985; 59: 1446-1451
• 22 McCarthy JP, Pozniak MA, Agre JC. Neuromuscular adaptations to concurrent strength and endurance training. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 34: 511-519
• 23 Gorostiaga EM, Granados C, Ibanez J. et al. Differences in physical fitness and throwing velocity among elite and amateur male handball players. Int J Sports Med 2005; 26: 225-232
• 24 Häkkinen K, Komi PV. The effects of explosive type strength training on electromyographic and force production characteristics of leg extensor muscles during concentric and various stretch-shortening cycle exercises. Scand J Sports Sci 1985; 7: 65-76
• 25 Attene G, Laffaye G, Chaouachi A. et al. Repeated sprint ability in young basketball players: one vs. two changes of direction (Part 2). J Sports Sci 2015; 33: 1553-1563
• 26 Gorostiaga EM, Izquierdo M, Ruesta M. et al. Strength training effects on physical performance and serum hormones in young soccer players. Eur J Appl Physiol 2004; 91: 698-707
• 27 Ettema G, Glosen T, van den Tillaar R. Effect of specific resistance training on overarm throwing performance. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2008; 3: 164-175
• 28 Granados C, Izquierdo M, Ibanez J. et al. Differences in physical fitness and throwing velocity among elite and amateur female handball players. Int J Sports Med 2007; 28: 860-867
• 29 Marques MC, Tillaar R, Vescovi JD. et al. Changes in strength and power performance in elite senior female professional volleyball players during the in-season: a case study. J Strength Cond Res 2008; 22: 1147-1155