Anthropometric and Physical Fitness Differences Among Turkish Adolescents and Adults Handball Players

Overview

The purpose of this study was to examine the variation in physical and physiological characteristics according to sports age in adolescent and adult male team handball (TH) players. Adolescent (N.=19, aged 18.1±1.4 yr) and adult (N.=23, 28.6±5.7 yr) players were examined for anthropometric characteristics, somatotype and body composition, and performed the physical working capacity test, a force-velocity test, the lateral scapular slide test (LSST), shark skill test, Davies test, squat jump (SJ), countermovement vertical jump without (CMJ).

The stability of the scapula in relation to the entire moving upper extremity is the key in the throwing sequence. The importance of scapular positioning in handball players has been well documented in the literature, but no one has compared scapular positioning between handball players and sedentary people. Study participants completed a rating scale for pain and a questionnaire about demographic and shoulder problems. One assessor performed the lateral scapular slide test and additional flexibility measurements around the shoulder girdle. Flexibility (external rotation, internal rotation) and scapular position (1, 2, 3) were compared among groups (young players, old players, sedentary people) and between sides (dominant, nondominant). Participants: Forty-five aged between 16 and 35 yrs were recruited in the study. The exclusion criteria included those (a) with soft tissue or bone problems affecting lower and upper extremity, (b) who had acute inflammation affecting upper and lower extremity region, (c) had scoliosis, (d) who had undergone any orthopedic surgery, (e) who had defined any pain or painful area at lower extremities and (f) who were obese (BMI\>30 kg/m2). Assessments: The investigators plan to perform the physical working capacity test, a force-velocity test, the lateral scapular slide test (LSST), shark skill test, Davies test, squat jump (SJ), countermovement vertical jump without (CMJ). The power analysis indicated that 32 participants for total were needed with 80 % power and a 5 % type 1 error. The power analysis of our study showed a power of 80% with LSST as the primary outcome. The data were analyzed using statistical software (SPSS version 18, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). All the statistical analyses were set a priori at an alpha level of p\<0.05. The tests for homogeneity (Levene's test) and normality (Shapiro-Wilk) were used to determine the appropriate statistical methods. According to the test results, nonparametric Friedman test was used for comparisons between baseline, first taping and last taping. Wilcoxon test was used for possible differences which may occur between taping applications in order to identify the application that provided the difference. Parametric test assumptions were not possible due to small sample size and inhomogeneous parameters.