Seasonal Changes in Body Composition in Elite Male Handball Players

Year 2024, , 274 - 281, 25.03.2024

Nebahat Eler

https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.1364866

Abstract

Having knowledge of an athlete's body composition values enables individuals to assess their physical condition and performance. It has become increasingly important in recent years to demonstrate the significant relationship between body composition and athletes' physical performance. The aim of this study is to examine the changes in body composition of elite male handball players during preparation and competition periods (42 weeks). Twenty-three elite male handball players volunteered for this study The Tanita brand body analysis device was used to evaluate body composition and eight measurements were taken. Athletes were divided according to their playing positions (playmakers n=8 and goalkeepers n=4, wings n=7 and pivots n=4). 7 measurements were evaluated, which were weight (W), body fat percentage (BF%), fat mass (FM), muscle mass (MM), total body water (TBW), body mass index (BMI), and basal metabolic rate (BMR). Wing players had lower body fat percentage and body fat mass than all other playing positions and regardless of position, all athletes' body fat percentage and body fat mass significantly decreased at T2 (p<0.05). As a result, increase in body fat percentage and fat mass was observed during the competition period, and this increase continued (p<0.05). The increase in fat mass during the competition period may be due to different training content and higher training intensity during the preparation period, changes in nutrition habits due to camps, long trips, and tournaments, as well as the ef-fects of fatigue and stress. Further studies are needed in these areas.

Keywords

Body Composition, Fat Mass, Handball, Male

References

• Bilge, M. (2012). Game Analysis of Olympic, World and European Championships in Men’s Handball. J Hum Kinet; 35:109–18. [PubMed]
• Bilsborough, JC., Greenway, K., Livingston, S., Cordy, J., Coutts, AJ. (2016). Changes in Anthropometry, Upper-Body Strength, and Nutrient Intake in Professional Australian Football Players During a Season. Int J Sports Physiol Perform; 11:290–300. [PubMed]
• Bojić-Ćaćić, L., Vuleta, D., Milanović, D. (2018). Position-related differences in morphological characteristics of U14 female handball players, Kinesiology; 50:235–42. [CrossRef]
• Büchel, D., Jakobsmeyer, R., Döring, M., Adams, M., Rückert, U., Baumeister, J. (2019). Effect of playing position and time on-court on activity profiles in german elite team handball. Int J Perform Anal Sport; 19:832–44. [CrossRef]
• Cavedon, V., Zancanaro, C., Milanese, C. (2018). Anthropometric prediction of DXA-measured body composition in female team handball players. PeerJ; 6:e5913. [PubMed]
• Cichy, I., Dudkowski, A., Kociuba, M., Ignasiak, Z., Sebastjan, A., Kochan, K., et al. (2020). Sex Differences in Body Composition Changes after Preseason Training in Elite Handball Players. Int J Environ Res Public Health; 17:3880. [PubMed]
• Fieseler, G., Hermassi, S., Hoffmeyer, B., Schulze, S., Irlenbusch, L., Bartels, T., et al. (2017). Differences in anthropometric characteristics in relation to throwing velocity and competitive level in professional male team handball: a tool for talent profiling. J Sports Med Phys Fitness; 57:985–92. [PubMed]
• Ghobadi, H., Rajabi, H., Farzad, B., Bayati, M., Jeffreys, I. (2013). Anthropometry of World-Class Elite Handball Players According to the Playing Position: Reports From Men’s Handball World Championship 2013. J Hum Kinet; 39:213–20. [PubMed]
• Granados, C., Izquierdo, M., Ibáñez, J., Ruesta, M., Gorostiaga, EM. (2013). Are there any differences in physical fitness and throwing velocity between national and international elite female handball players? J strength Cond Res; 27:723–32. [PubMed]
• Karcher, C., Buchheit, M. (2014). On-court demands of elite handball, with special reference to playing positions. Sports Med; 44:797–814. [PubMed]
• Lago-Penas, C., Rey, E., Lago-Ballesteros, J., Dominguez E, Casais L. (2013). Seasonal variations in body composition and fitness parameters according to individual percentage of training completion in professional soccer players. Int Sport J; 14:205–15.
• Lidor, R., Falk, B., Arnon, M, Cohen, Y., Segal, G., Lander, Y. (2005). Measurement of talent in team handball: the questionable use of motor and physical tests. J strength Cond Res; 19:318–25. [PubMed]
• Madic, DM., Andrasic, S., Gusic, M., Molnar, S., Radanovic, D., Trajkovic, N. (2018). Seasonal body composition variations in adolescent soccer players. Int J Morphol; 36:877–80. [CrossRef]
• Martínez-Rodríguez A, Martínez-Olcina M, Hernández-García M, Rubio-Arias JÁ, Sánchez-Sánchez, J., Sánchez-Sáez, JA. (2020). Body composition characteristics of handball players: Systematic review. Arch Med del Deport; 37:52–61.
• Martínez-Rodríguez, A., Martínez-Olcina, M., Hernández-García, M., Rubio-Arias, JÁ., Sánchez-Sánchez, J., Lara-Cobos, D., et al. (2021). Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Body Composition and Performance in Beach Handball Players: A Cross Sectional Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health; 18. [PubMed]
• Massuca, L., Branco, B., Miarka, B., Fragoso, I. (2015). Physical Fitness Attributes of Team-Handball Players are Related to Playing Position and Performance Level. Asian J Sports Med; e24712. [PubMed]
• Michalsik, LB., Madsen, K., Aagaard, P. (2015). Technical match characteristics and influence of body anthropometry on playing performance in male elite team handball. J strength Cond Res; 2015;29:416–28. [PubMed]
• Milanese, C., Piscitelli, F., Lampis, C., Zancanaro, C. (2011). Anthropometry and body composition of female handball players according to competitive level or the playing position. J Sports Sci; 29:1301–9. [PubMed]
• Mohoric, U., Abazovic, E., Paravlic, AH. (2022). Morphological and Physical Performance-Related Characteristics of Elite Male Handball Players: The Influence of Age and Playing Position. Appl Sci; 12:11894. [CrossRef]
• Ostojic, SM. (2003). Seasonal Alterations in Body Composition and Sprint Performance of Elitesoccer Players. J Exerc Physiol Online; 6:24–7.
• Owen, AL., Lago-Peñas, C., Dunlop, G., Mehdi, R., Chtara, M., Dellal, A. (2018). Seasonal Body Composition Variation Amongst Elite European Professional Soccer Players: An Approach of Talent Identification. J Hum Kinet; 62:177–84. [PubMed]
• Özçetin, M., Khalilova, F., Kılıç, A. (2017). An unusual method for assessing nutritional status: BIA. Journal of Children; 17:61–6. [CrossRef]
• Póvoas, SCA., Seabra, AFT., Ascensão, AAMR., Magalhães, J., Soares, JMC., Rebelo, ANC. (2012). Physical and physiological demands of elite team handball. J strength Cond Res; 26:3365–75. [PubMed]
• Reilly, T. (1996). Science and Soccer. London, U.K.: E&FN.
• Rousanoglou, EN., Noutsos, KS., Bayios, IA. (2014). Playing level and playing position differences of anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics in elite junior handball players. J Sports Med Phys Fitness; 54:611–21. [PubMed]
• Rybakova, E., Shutova, T., Vysotskaya, T. (2020). Sports training of ski jumpers from a springboard based on body composition control and physical fitness. J Phys Educ Sport; 20:752–8.
• Sampei, MA., Sigulem, DM. (2009). Field methods in the evaluation of obesity in children and adolescents. Rev Bras Saúde Matern Infant; 9:21–9. [CrossRef]
• Schwesig, R., Hermassi, S., Fieseler, G., Irlenbusch, L., Noack, F., Delank, KS, et al. (2017). Anthropometric and physical performance characteristics of professional handball players: influence of playing position. J Sports Med Phys Fitness; 57:1471–8. [PubMed]
• Sibila, M., Pori, P. (2009). Position-related differences in selected morphological body characteristics of top-level handball players. Coll Antropol; 33:1079–86. [PubMed]
• Singh, NN., Singh, RR., Singh, SK. (2010). Study of trunk flexibility and body composition between football and badminton players. J Phys Educ Spor; 2011;11:18.
• Sporis, G., Vuleta, D., Vuleta, D., Milanović, D. (2010). Fitness profiling in handball: physical and physiological characteristics of elite players. Coll Antropol; 34:1009–14. [PubMed]
• Sundgot-Borgen, J., Meyer, NL., Lohman, TG., Ackland, TR., Maughan, RJ., Stewart, AD., et al. (2013). How to minimise the health risks to athletes who compete in weight-sensitive sports review and position statement on behalf of the Ad Hoc Research Working Group on Body Composition, Health and Performance, under the auspices of the IOC Medical Commission. Br J Sports Med; 47:1012–22. [PubMed]