Abstract
1- Introduction
2- Methods
3- Results
4- Discussion
5- Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References
Abstract
Purpose: The present study evaluated the effects of regular participation in small-sided team handball training on body composition, osteogenic response, physical performance, and cardiovascular risk factors, as well as well-being and motivation, in young untrained women. Methods: Twenty-eight untrained 20- to 30-year-old women were randomized to a handball training group (HG; n = 14, height 170 §5 cm, weight 73 §11 kg, VO2peak 37.7 §4.1 mL/min/kg) that trained 1.7 §0.3 times per week over 12 weeks (70 min 4 v 4 handball sessions) or an inactive control group (CG; n = 14, 169§5 cm, 71 §12 kg, 38.1 §3.7 mL/min/kg). Physiological and psychological and motivational training adaptations were assessed pre- and post-intervention by dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scans, blood sampling, physical tests, and questionnaires. Results: The average heart rate (HR) over all training sessions was equal to 85% § 6% HRmax. Between-group intervention effects were observed in favor of HG for muscle mass (2.1%, p = 0.024), proximal femur bone mineral density (0.8%, p = 0.041), Yo-Yo IE1 intermittent endurance test level 1 (IE1) performance (35%, p < 0.001), and incremental treadmill test performance (11.5%, p = 0.003), but not total fat mass (p = 0.176), mean arterial blood pressure (p = 0.328), resting HR (p = 0.219), or blood lipids (p = 0.2980.854). In CG, no changes were observed in any of the measured physiological variables after the training period. Compared to CG, HG had an increase in intrinsic motivation (p < 0.001) and in the well-being subscale “energy” (p = 0.010). Conclusion: Participation in regular recreational team handball training organized as small-sided games has marked beneficial effects on physical performance, musculoskeletal fitness, well-being, and motivation in untrained young women.
Introduction
The prevalence of lifestyle diseases associated with low cardiovascular and metabolic fitness is reaching pandemic proportions.1 Thus, the expected increases in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) signifies the major societal challenge associated with a sedentary life.2 It has been shown that regular participation in physical activities can markedly benefit individual health and that supervised training interventions can be used for both the prevention and treatment of lifestyle diseases.3,4 However, the long-term adherence rates to exercise on prescription programs are poor.5 In Denmark, the sporting associations Danmarks Idrætsforbund and Danmarks Gymnastik & Idrætsforeninger, supported by the Danish government, have a vision that, by 2025, 50% of the Danish population should be members of a local sporting association and 75% should be physically active.6 The sporting associations find it difficult keeping young members interested in their teenage years and reaching out to sedentary people with no or little experience of sport where competition is not a major element.6 Furthermore, it has been shown that the dropout rate with traditional “exercise on prescription programs” is high both in Denmark and worldwide,5,7 and new strategies for the prevention of lifestyle diseases should be aimed at identifying activities that can motivate participants to remain active and hence provide an effective, long-lasting lifestyle change with prolonged physiological perspectives. Previous observations from studies conducted on team sport, performed as small-sided games, have shown marked beneficial health effects and development of social relationships in untrained sedentary men and women as well as people with hypertension, T2DM, and prostate cancer.