| dc.description.abstract | Purpose: Investigate sex differences in power, sprinting, and jumping performance following
in-season high-load strength training and combined high-load and power training in high-level
handball players. Methods: Twenty-seven players were divided into High-Load (HL; female:
n=10, male: n=4) or Combined High-Load and Power (COM; female: n=8, male: n=5) training
groups. Training was conducted twice weekly for 15 weeks. Pre- and post-measurements were
leg press- and bench press maximal power (Pmax), countermovement jump (CMJ) height,
change of direction (CoD) sprints, linear sprint (10-, 20-, 30m), and isometric rate of force
development (RFD). Results: Females had higher training attendance than male (HL: female:
92±7%, male: 74±11%, p=0.001; COM: female: 92±7%, male: 71±10%, p=0.001). No sex
differences were observed in the physical measurements in HL and COM (p=0.2-0.9; p=0.1-
0.9). Leg Press Pmax (HL: 5.86% vs 2.77%; COM: 2.64% vs 0.58%), Bench Press Pmax (HL:
1.87% vs 0.61%; COM: -4.05% vs 1.7%), CMJ (HL: 1.20% vs 0.34%; COM: -1.82% vs -4.1),
CoD (HL: 1.58% vs 0.69%; COM: -0.96% vs -3.78%), RFD 50-,100-,200ms (HL: 15.55-
,15.09-,12.10% vs 0.93-,14.16-,27.35%; COM: 27.91-,15.84-,9.9% vs 9.72-,7.46-,5.58%),
Linear Sprint 10-,20-,30m (HL: -1.19-,-0.84-,-0.24% vs -0.96-,-1.05-,-1.09%; COM: -0.81-,-
0.21-,-0.03% vs 1.12-,-0.71-,-1.91%). Conclusion: Our results indicate no significant sex
differences in training adaptation. It may seem that females exhibit a minor favourable response
to training compared to males in both programs, potentially regarding training attendance. The
study highlights meaningful individual differences, encouraging personalized training
programs tailored to player's needs and qualities, regardless of sex.
Keywords: Team handball, sex differences, strength conditioning, competitive period, heavy
resistance, performance. | |