Dr. Ulloa-Díaz, David

The peak velocity of an athlete’s throws is a determining factor for sports performance. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) protocol with functional electro-mechanical dynamometry (FEMD) on throwing velocity. Thirteen international-level female handball players voluntarily participated in the study. The PAPE protocol considered four sets of eight repetitions controlled by FEMD (four at 30% of 1RM followed by another four at 60% of 1RM). After each series, the athletes’ throwing velocity was measured. Significant differences (p < 0.01) were found in the effect size (ES), which measures the strength of the statistical relationship between two variables by group with the repeated measures ANOVA statistic with an effect size ω2 = 0.028. The effect size analysis identified measurements that are considered null for the baseline—PAPE 1 comparison and small baseline—PAPE 2, baseline—PAPE 3, and baseline—PAPE 4. When resistance is controlled during the run as with an FEMD device, only two sets of eight repetitions (four repetitions at 30% and four repetitions at 60% of 1RM) are required for the improvement of throwing speed in elite handball players.

Background: Systematizing reliable protocols and procedures for strength assessment in handball has allowed for a more thorough kinetic analysis and increased precision in detecting training-induced changes in muscular strength. The evaluation of upper limb strength with a bilateral standing press (BSP) exercise in handball players approximates blocking actions in the defensive phase, pushing and fixation. Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the relative and absolute reliability of intra-session comparisons in an isometric peak muscle strength protocol in a bilateral standing press (BSP) exercise among female handball players. Methods: Sixteen young female handball players at an international level, aged between 22 ± 4 years, with no prior experience in using functional electromechanical dynamometers (FEMD) participated in this study. The participants initiated the assessment of maximum isometric force in a bipedal stance with a forward projection of the dominant foot between 20 and 30 cm. The knees were kept semi-flexed, and the hip extension of the non-dominant limb ranged from 15 to 20°. Bilateral anterior push of the upper limb was performed with shoulder abduction and elbow flexion at 90°, maintaining a pronated hand position. Participants were instructed to exert three sets of maximal force for 5 s in BSP exercise. Relative reliability was assessed using the model intraclass correlation (ICC) and absolute reliability was assessed using the coefficient of variation (CV) and standard error of measurement (SEM). For this study, the parameters of maximum and mean muscle strength were considered. Results: The results demonstrated high relative reliability (ICC 0.93–0.97) and absolute reliability (SEM 0.19–2.79) y (CV 4.78–9.03) for both mean force and peak force, with no significant differences between the sets (p > 0.05), indicating a negligible effect size (0.01−0.12). Conclusion: The mean and peak isometric muscle strength for the BSP exercise controlled with FEMD in female handball players exhibits high relative and absolute reliability between series.