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Cardiovascular and metabolic health effects of team handball training in overweight women: Impact of prior experience
Author(s) -
Hornstrup Therese,
Póvoas Susana,
Helge Jørn Wulff,
Melcher Pia Sandfeld,
Fristrup Bjørn,
Andersen Jesper Løvind,
Møgelvang Rasmus,
Hansen Peter Riis,
Nybo Lars,
Krustrup Peter
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.13563
Subject(s) - overweight , medicine , heart rate , physical therapy , body mass index , blood pressure , fat mass , endurance training
Purpose We tested the hypothesis that participation in small‐sided team handball training could provide beneficial effects on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters in overweight premenopausal women with special focus on the importance of prior team handball experience. Methods A 16‐week RCT training intervention was conducted in overweight premenopausal women randomized into three groups: a team handball training group without prior experience (UN; n = 13), a team handball group with prior experience (EXP; n = 10), and an inactive control group (CON; n = 9). Both UN and EXP completed 1.6 ± 0.3 training sessions per week with average heart rates of 84 ± 5 and 85 ± 9% of maximal heart rate, respectively. Cardiovascular and metabolic parameters were assessed before and after the intervention. Results Compared to CON, UN had significant increases in V O 2max (7 ± 4%) and intermittent endurance performance (26 ± 14%) as well as reduced total fat mass (4 ± 6%), total fat percentage (4 ± 5%), and android fat mass (7 ± 12%), respectively (all P < .05). Compared to UN and CON, EXP displayed increased left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index (both P < .05) after the training period. There were no significant changes between any of the groups in muscle mass, blood lipids, resting heart rate, and blood pressure (all P > .05). Conclusion Small‐sided team handball training in overweight premenopausal women resulted in improvement of V O 2max and body composition for participants with minimal team handball experience, indicating that prior team handball experience is not a prerequisite for improving physiological parameters of importance for health. Furthermore, EXP displayed cardiac adaptations, including increased left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index.