The Effect of Functional Training on the Performance of Female Handball Players’Shooting Skills

A randomized grouping experiment was conducted to study the effect of 8-week functional training on shooting performance of Beijing female handball players.According to the athletes’FMS(functional movement screening)scoring results,they were randomly divided into 2 groups.The experimental group adopted an 8-week functional training,aiming at strengthening their core strength,joint stability,and the power chain of shooting techniques.The control group adopted the traditional strength training mode.ANOVA(analysis of variance)was adopted to analyze the different performance of the athletes from two groups on their FMS scores,distances of throwing,and 7-meter shooting speed before and after the experiment.The results show that:(1)the total FMS scores of the experimental group athletes have been increased more significantly than those of the control group,and the injuries per capita has been significantly reduced;(2)the athletes in the experimental group have more significantly improved performance in handball throwing and 7-meter shooting speed than those in the control group.It shows that 8 weeks of functional training may effectively improve the physical function of Beijing female handball players and their performance in two special skills of handball throwing and shooting speed.

Shoulder joint flexibility in top athletes

Joint range of motion (ROM) is very important in daily activities, sport and in clinical diagnosis. Many factors have been reported to influence joint ROM. Musculoskeletal adaptation and some special side effects due to his or her physical demands and movement patterns in professional athletes are very important subjects in sport sciences. The present study is a comparison of shoulder joint ROM in elite athlete and non-athlete groups and its relationship to their age, post and years of their tournament play. The subjects in this study included 106 men with mean age (23.65 ±3.45) and mean years of tournament play (5.60 ±2.23). The groups of subjects included 26 handball players, 25 volleyball players, 25 soccer players and 30 non-athletes. Data were collected through questionnaires and inspection, and subjects’ ROM was measured by “Leighton flex- ometer” (r = 0.90 – 0.99) in external rotation and abduction of shoulder joint in dominant and non-domi- nant hands. Data were analyzed by correlation coefficient, t – test, ANOVA and post hock Schaffe test. The results showed that an increase in age and years of tournament play reduced the shoulder ROM of subjects (p ≤ 0.05). There were significant differences in shoulder ROM among athletic groups. Additionally, there are significant differences between dominant and non-dominant hands (p ≤ 0.05). It can be concluded that more specific stretching exercises and warm-up for shoulder in all athletes and especially in older and experienced players should be performed by coaches. The results also emphasized routine screening, corrective exercise programs and a design of preventing strategies by athletic trainers and coaches.