Effect of Low-Intensity Interval Training on Physical Performance and Blood Parameters Among Junior Handball Players

Authors

  • Rasmi Marai High Business School of Tunis, Tunisia
  • Raoua Triki Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of Manouba, Tunisia and Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sports Performance Optimization”, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia
  • Houda Bougrine Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of Manouba, Tunisia and Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Gafsa, Tunisia
  • Amri Hammami Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sports Performance Optimization”, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia
  • Jihen Khalfoun Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of Manouba, Tunisia and Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sports Performance Optimization”, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia
  • Mohamed Baaziz Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of Manouba, Tunisia, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Gafsa, Tunisia and Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sports Performance Optimization”, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia
  • Abderraouf Ben Abderrahman Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of Manouba, Tunisia and Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sports Performance Optimization”, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.114.16287

Keywords:

LIIT, physical capacity, blood parameters, team sport

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of low-intensity interval training program (LIIT) on physical fitness and blood parameters among junior handball players. Thirty young players participated in this study and were divided into two groups: an experimental group (n=15) which underwent a low-intensity interval training program, and a control group (n=15) which underwent a traditional training program. Blood parameters (hemoglobin (g/dl), mean corpuscular hemoglobin MCH (pg), and hematocrit (%)) and physical capacities (flexibility, speed, endurance, agility, upper body muscle strength, and power) were evaluated before and after eight weeks of training in the two groups. At the beginning and end of the eight-week program, significant differences between the groups were observed. The experimental group exhibited better development compared to the control group in the following parameters: endurance (2.77%, p=0.03), speed (6.8%, p=0.001), power (17.09%, p=0.02), agility (4.22%, p=0.01), flexibility (29.25%, p=0.01), and upper body strength capacity (8.82%, p=0.02). The MCH was significantly higher in the experimental group (p=0.01). However, no significant differences were observed for hemoglobin and hematocrit (p>0.05). Our findings demonstrate that the low-intensity interval training intervention was more effective than the traditional program in improving physical parameters and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. The suggested low-intensity interval training program could serve as a viable fitness strategy for aerobic sports.

References

Karcher, C. and M. Buchheit, On-Court Demands of Elite Handball, with Special Reference to Playing Positions. Sports Medicine, 2014. 44(6): p. 797-814.

Gorostiaga, E.M., et al., Effects of an entire season on physical fitness changes in elite male handball players. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2006. 38(2): p. 357-366.

Hermassi, S., et al., Shuttle versus straight repeated-sprint ability tests and their relationship to anthropometrics and explosive muscular performance in elite handball players. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness, 2018. 58(11): p. 1625-1634.

Wagner, H., et al., Specific Physical Training in Elite Male Team Handball. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2017. 31(11).

Buchheit, M., et al., Improving Repeated Sprint Ability in Young Elite Soccer Players: Repeated Shuttle Sprints Vs. Explosive Strength Training. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2010. 24(10): p. 2715-2722.

Ivanova, S.S., et al., The role of rhizome model in future physical education teachers self-realization. EurAsian Journal of BioSciences, 2019. 13(2): p. 1581-1588.

Weston, M., et al., Effects of Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Training (HIT) on Fitness in Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Controlled and Non-Controlled Trials. Sports Medicine, 2014. 44(7): p. 1005-1017.

Gibala, M.J., J.B. Gillen, and M.E. Percival, Physiological and Health-Related Adaptations to Low-Volume Interval Training: Influences of Nutrition and Sex. Sports Medicine, 2014. 44(2): p. 127-137.

Mang, Z.A., et al., Heat acclimation during low-intensity exercise increases and Hsp72, but not markers of mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation, in skeletal tissue. Experimental Physiology, 2021. 106(1): p. 290-301.

Heisterberg, M.F., et al., Extensive Monitoring Through Multiple Blood Samples in Professional Soccer Players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2013. 27(5).

Saidi, K., et al., Effects of a six-week period of congested match play on plasma volume variations, hematological parameters, training workload and physical fitness in elite soccer players. PLOS ONE, 2019. 14(7): p. e0219692.

Robergs, R.A. and R. Landwehr, The surprising history of the" HRmax= 220-age" equation. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online, 2002. 5(2): p. 1-10.

Mackenzie, B., Performance evaluation tests. London: Electric World plc, 2005. 24(25): p. 57-158.

Durandt, J., Fitness testing and the physical profiling of players. Boksmart Sport Science Institute of South Africa, 2009. 7.

Hachana, Y., et al., Test-Retest Reliability, Criterion-Related Validity, and Minimal Detectable Change of the Illinois Agility Test in Male Team Sport Athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 2013. 27(10).

Eken, Ö. and M.E. Kafkas, Effects of low and high intensity interval training exercises on VO(2max) and components of neuromuscular and vascular system in male volunteers. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact, 2022. 22(3): p. 352-363.

Martin-Willett, R., et al., Few Structural Brain Changes Associated With Moderate-Intensity Interval Training and Low-Intensity Continuous Training in a Randomized Trial of Fitness and Older Adults. J Aging Phys Act, 2021. 29(3): p. 505-515.

Madhankumar, T. and Mebaratu. EFFECT OF HANDBALL COACHING PROGRAM ON SELECTED PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SKILL PERFORMANCE VARIABLES OF HAWASSA UNIVERSITY HANDBALL PLAYERS. 2016.

Lora-Pozo, I., et al., Anthropometric, Cardiopulmonary and Metabolic Benefits of the High-Intensity Interval Training Versus Moderate, Low-Intensity or Control for Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019. 16(22): p. 4524.

Little, J.P., et al., An acute bout of high-intensity interval training increases the nuclear abundance of PGC-1α and activates mitochondrial biogenesis in human skeletal muscle. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 2011.

Downloads

Published

2024-04-21

How to Cite

Marai, R., Triki, R., Bougrine, H., Hammami, A., Khalfoun, J., Baaziz, M., & Abderrahman, A. B. (2024). Effect of Low-Intensity Interval Training on Physical Performance and Blood Parameters Among Junior Handball Players. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 11(4), 91–99. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.114.16287

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>