Open AccessThe influence of recovery period following a pre-load stimulus on physical performance measures in handball players
Author(s) -
Asmadi Ishak,
Fui Yen Wong,
Antoine Seurot,
Scott Cocking,
Samuel A. Pullinger
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0249969
Subject(s) - sprint , rating of perceived exertion , physical therapy , medicine , stimulus (psychology) , mathematics , heart rate , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychology , blood pressure , psychotherapist
The purpose of this research was to establish the optimal recovery duration following a pre-load stimulus on performance measures related to handball players. Seventeen senior male University handball players (mean ± SD: age 23.6 ± 2.3 yrs., height 1.79 ± 0.06 m and body mass 72.5 ± 10.7 kg) performed three experimental sessions. All sessions consisted of a standardised warm-up followed by a pre-load stimulus (HSR) back squats followed by a passive rest for either 4-min (PAP 4 ), 8-min (PAP 8 ), or 12-min (PAP 12 ). Following the completion of the passive recovery, players then performed a countermovement jump (CMJ), a 20-m linear sprint and a modified agility t-test. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. There was a significant main effect of passive rest duration after the pre-load stimulus. The PAP 12 condition improved CMJ scores (2.3–2.6%; effect size = small), 20-m linear sprint times (3.3–3.7%; effect size = small to moderate) and agility times (1.6–1.9%; effect size = trivial) compared to PAP 4 and PAP 8 conditions (P < 0.0005). Values of heart rate and rating of perceived exertion were also significantly lower during the PAP 12 condition compared to the PAP 4 and PAP 8 conditions (P < 0.0005). A positive Pearson correlation was established between agility and CMJ for all conditions (P < 0.001). The findings provide novel data observing that a pre-load stimulus, followed by 12-min of recovery, results in greater maximal jump, sprint and agility measures when compared with a 4-min or 8-min recovery in male handball players.