Throwing effectiveness and rotational strength of the shoulder in team handball.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine: a) the influence of simulated game activities (SGA) in throwing effectiveness and rotational strength of the shoulder; and b) the relationship between the rotational strength of the shoulder and ball velocity and accuracy in team handball.


METHODS
Sixteen female handball players participated following a SGA, which included distinctive handball activities for 60 min (2 halves of 30 min). For testing ball velocity and accuracy, every 10 min, subjects performed 3 shots on the spot towards a target from 7 m distance. Shoulder isokinetic strength during internal (IR) and external rotation (ER) was evaluated in 3 angular velocities (60, 180, and 300 degrees /s) before SGA, during half-time and at the end of SGA.


RESULTS
Throwing effectiveness was significantly affected by time, as aiming accuracy was gradually decreased. However, ball velocity remained stable. The correlation between ball velocity and deviation was not significant throughout the SGA. No statistically significant differences between measurements were found in maximum isokinetic torque, except from the case of ER at 180 degrees /s, where there was a significant difference between initial measurement (IM) and A and B halves. A significant relationship between isokinetic torque and ball velocity was found only for the IM for ER (180, 300 degrees /s) and IR (300 degrees /s).


CONCLUSIONS
The main findings of this study are that, during a game simulation, time affects only aiming accuracy and not ball velocity or rotational strength of the shoulder. Moreover, peak torque of IR and ER of the shoulder is not related with ball velocity and throwing effectiveness.
Zapartidis
I
I
Laboratory of Sports Biomechanics, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. elzapa@phed.uoa.gr
Gouvali
M
M
Bayios
I
I
Boudolos
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D001077:Aptitude Tests; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013546:Sweating / Q000502:physiology; D019415:Torque