Acute physiological response to different recreational team handball game formats in over 60-year-old inactive men

Abstract

This study described the physical and physiological demands, activity profile and fun levels of recreational team handball (TH) game formats in over 60-year-old men with no previous experience with this sport (n = 17, 67.4±3.3 years). The participants performed 5v5, 6v6 and 7v7 matches (3x15-min periods) with fixed pitch size (40x20 m). In all testing sessions, heart rate (HR), differential ratings of perceived exertion and blood lactate were evaluated to measure internal load. Locomotor profile, game actions and accelerometer data were used to access external load. Also, fun levels were registered at the end of all testing sessions. Mean (76-77%HRmax) and peak HR (84-86%HRmax) decreased from the first to the third match period, in 6v6 and 7v7 (p≤0.034, d = 0.730). Blood lactate increased from baseline to the first period and decreased from the first to the third period in all game formats (p<0.001, d = 1.646). The participants covered longer total distances in 6v6 vs 5v5 (p≤0.005, d = 0.927) and spent more time in fast running in 6v6 vs 5v5 and 7v7 (p<0.001, d = 1.725) and in 5v5 vs 7v7 (p = 0.007, d = 0.912). A higher number of throws was performed in 5v5 vs 6v6 and 7v7 (p<0.001, d = 1.547), and in 6v6 vs 7v7 (p = 0.031, d = 0.779). The number of stops and total actions in 7v7 was significantly lower vs 5v5 and 6v6 (p≤0.003, d = 1.025). Recreational TH is a high-intensity and motivating exercise mode for middle-aged and older men, regardless the game format. However, higher high-intensity demands were observed during 5v5 and 6v6 game formats. Therefore, it is suggested a multiple game format (5v5, 6v6 and 7v7) training plan, with more use of 5v5 and 6v6 game formats, with training sessions lasting up to 15-min of warm-up and 3x15-min periods of match-play, when prescribing recreational TH to improve cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health in this population.

Fig 1. Schematic representation of the study protocol.

BMI–Body mass index; HR–Heart rate; VO_2max−Maximal oxygen uptake; YYIE1—Yo-Yo intermittent endurance level 1 test; GPS—Global positioning system; BL–Blood lactate; RPE—Rating of perceived exertion.

Fig 2. Percentage of total match time spent in each intensity zone expressed as percentage of players’ maximal heart rate (HR_max) during 5v5 (dark grey bars), 6v6 (light grey bars) and 7v7 (white bars) recreational team handball game formats (data are presented as means ± SD).

Fig 3. Baseline (dark grey bars), first period (medium grey bars), third period (light grey bars) mean blood lactate and match mean (white bars) and peak (listed bars) blood lactate levels during 5v5, 6v6 and 7v7 recreational team handball game formats (data are presented as means ± SD).

BL–Blood lactate. * Significantly different from baseline; ^# significantly different from the first period and ^§ significantly different from 5v5 (p<0.05).

Fig 4. Total absolute and relative distance covered in the selected locomotor categories during 5v5 (dark grey bars), 6v6 (light grey bars) and 7v7 (white bars) recreational team handball game formats (data are presented as means ± SD).

Side Med–sideways medium-intensity movements; Side High–sideways high-intensity movements; Back–backwards movements; High-intensity–sum of fast running, sprinting and sideways high-intensity movements. * Significantly different from 5v5 and ^# significantly different from 6v6 (p≤0.05).