Effects of adding a weekly eccentric-overload training session on strength and athletic performance in team-handball players.
To investigate the influence of adding a weekly eccentric-overload training (EOT) session in several athletic performance's tests, 18 team-handball players were assigned either to an EOT (n = 11) or a Control (n = 7) group. Both groups continued to perform the same habitual strength training, but the EOT group added one session/week during a 7-week training programme consisting of four sets of eight repetitions for the bilateral half-squat and unilateral lunge exercises. The test battery included handball throwing velocity, maximum dynamic strength (1RM), countermovement jump (CMJ), 20 m sprint, triple hop for distance, and eccentric/concentric power in both the half-squat and lunge exercises. Data were analysed using magnitude-based inferences. Both groups improved their 1RM in the half squat, 20 m sprint time, and CMJ performance to a similar extent, but the EOT group showed a beneficial effect for both right [(42/58/0), possibly positive] and left [(99/1/0), very likely positive] triple hop for distance performance. In addition, the EOT group showed greater power output improvements in both eccentric and concentric phases of the half-squat (difference in percent of change ranging from 6.5% to 22.0%) and lunge exercises (difference in per cent of change ranging from 13.1% to 24.9%). Nevertheless, no group showed changes in handball throwing velocity. Selected variables related to team-handball performance (i.e. functional jumping performance, power output) can be improved by adding a single EOT session per week, highlighting the usefulness of this low-volume/high-intensity training when aiming at optimizing dynamic athletic performance.
a Sport Research Centre , Miguel Hernández University of Elche , Avda. de la Universidad s/n., C.P. 03202 , Elche (Alicante) , Spain.
Rafael
R
Sabido
a Sport Research Centre , Miguel Hernández University of Elche , Avda. de la Universidad s/n., C.P. 03202 , Elche (Alicante) , Spain.
Jose Luis
JL
Hernández-Davó
a Sport Research Centre , Miguel Hernández University of Elche , Avda. de la Universidad s/n., C.P. 03202 , Elche (Alicante) , Spain.
Javier
J
Botella
a Sport Research Centre , Miguel Hernández University of Elche , Avda. de la Universidad s/n., C.P. 03202 , Elche (Alicante) , Spain.
Angel
A
Navarro
b Department of Strength and Conditioning , Italian National Team (FIGC) , CTF Coverciano , Italy.
Julio
J
Tous-Fajardo
D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D054874:Athletic Performance; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D009068:Movement; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D055070:Resistance Training; D012420:Running; D013177:Sports; D055815:Young Adult
Strength; performance; team sport; training