Fitness and health benefits of team handball training for young untrained women--A cross-disciplinary RCT on physiological adaptations and motivational aspects

Purpose: The present study evaluated the effects of regular participation in small-sided team handball training on body composition, osteogenic response, physical performance, and cardiovascular risk factors, as well as well-being and motivation, in young untrained women.Methods: Twenty-eight untrained 20- to 30-year-old women were randomized to a handball training group(HG; n = 14, height 170 ± 5 cm, weight 73 ± 11 kg, VO_(2peak) 37.7 ± 4.1 mL/min/kg) that trained 1.7 ± 0.3 times per week over 12 weeks(70 min 4 v 4 handball sessions) or an inactive control group(CG; n = 14, 169 ± 5 cm, 71 ± 12 kg, 38.1 ± 3.7 mL/min/kg). Physiological and psychological and motivational training adaptations were assessed pre-and post-intervention by dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry(DXA) scans, blood sampling, physical tests, and questionnaires.Results: The average heart rate(HR) over all training sessions was equal to 85% ± 6% HR_(max). Between-group intervention effects were observed in favor of HG for muscle mass(2.1%, p = 0.024), proximal femur bone mineral density(0.8%, p = 0.041), Yo-Yo IE1 intermittent endurance test level 1(IE1) performance(35%, p < 0.001), and incremental treadmill test performance(11.5%, p = 0.003), but not total fat mass(p = 0.176),mean arterial blood pressure(p = 0.328), resting HR(p = 0.219), or blood lipids(p = 0.298—0.854). In CG, no changes were observed in any of the measured physiological variables after the training period. Compared to CG, HG had an increase in intrinsic motivation(p < 0.001) and in the well-being subscale "energy"(p = 0.010).Conclusion: Participation in regular recreational team handball training organized as small-sided games has marked beneficial effects on physical performance, musculoskeletal fitness, well-being, and motivation in untrained young women.