Traditional versus resisted sprint training in highly-trained, female team handball players: effects on performance and muscle architecture

Abstract

Physical factors are an important aspect of handball, however, research regarding training methods for handball players are scare. Resisted sprint training is a method often used to improve acceleration, an important factor for performance in handball. The purpose of this master thesis is to compare the effects of resistance sprint training (RST) against traditionally sprint training (TST) in semi-professional, female handball players on sprint performance, and to determine whether these effects are reflected in muscle architectural measurements. A group of semi-professional female handball players (n=18) was assigned to either RST group (sled towing, with 12.4±0.2 % of body mass) or TST group matched on 10- m sprint performance. The participants completed two sprint sessions per week for 10 weeks. Sessions included 10-m and 20-m sprints, with a total sprint distance of 240-280 m per session, equal for both groups. Sprint tests (10-m and 30-m), vertical and horizontal jumps, 20-m shuttle run test and muscle architecture were performed pre- and post-training. Beneficial effects were found in 30-m sprint test for both groups (TST=-0.31±0.19 s, RST=-0.16±0.13 s; mean±90% CL). Only TST had a beneficial effect on 10-m time (-0.04±0.04 s, ES=0.51). Pennation angle decreased for both groups (-6.0 % ± 3.3 ES: 0.38 for TST and -2.8 % ± 2.0 ES: 0.19 for RST), which had a nearly perfect correlation with percentage change in sprint performance (r=0.92). A small increase in fascicle length (5.3±3.9 %, ES=0.26 and 4.0±2.1 %, ES=0.46 for TST and RST, respectively) was also found. Both groups obtained a small beneficial effect for agility performance (TST: -1.7 ± 1.9 %, ES=0.46 and RST: 1.2 ± 0.8 %, ES=0.28) Sprint training was highly effective in enhancing short distance (10-30 m) sprints in female handball players, and TST appeared to be more effective than RST. A similar, yet small, effect of sprint training on muscle architecture was observed in both groups, possibly reflecting velocity-specific adaptation, present in concurrently training athletes.