Influence of typical handball characteristics on upper body posture and postural control in male handball players

Musculoskeletal complaints, postural patterns and psychosocial workplace predictors in police officers from an organizational unit of a German federal state police force - a study protocol

BACKGROUND

Police officers are exposed to a particularly high risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and psychosocial stress due to their working conditions. Therefore, the aim of this project will be to assess the occupational physical and mental health of police officers from an organizational unit of the police force of a German federal state.

METHODS

The aim is to analyze at least 200 active police officers of a state police force in Germany between the age of 18 and 65 years. In a mixed-methods design, a video raster stereography-based measurement of the upper body posture and a modified version of the Nordic Questionnaire (NQ) will be used for investigating their physical health, while the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) and the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ-Op) will be used to analyze their mental health. In addition, job-specific psychosocial factors at the workplace will be assessed (using self-designed questions that were previously evaluated in an expert interview).

DISCUSSION

To date, there is a lack of current questionnaire-based data on the prevalence of MSDs in police officers, or of MSDs associated with injuries or psychosocial workplace factors. Thus, in this study, these MSDs will be correlated with quantitative upper body posture data. If these results prove an increased physical and/or psychosocial stress, then the existing workplace health promotion measures should be analyzed and modified if necessary.

The Importance of Posture And Body Composition for the Stability and Selected Motor Abilities of Professional Handball Players

The aim of the research was to analyze body composition, body posture and postural stability of professional male handball players and to determine the differences between players with correct and incorrect body posture, considering power of the lower limbs and agility, speed, and change of direction deficit. The study comprised 16 professional handball players. Body composition analysis was performed using the method of electrical bioimpedance. Body posture was examined using the Diers formetric III 4D optoelectronic method. Postural stability was tested via the Biodex Balance System. Players performed the following fitness tests assessing lower limb muscle power (LP, HS, CMJ), linear speed (SLS 20 m), and COD speed (Zig-Zag test, COD deficit). Only 31.25% of players demonstrated body posture with correct physiological curvatures, while 68.75% showed changes in body asymmetry. The group with correct body posture performed better in SLS 20m than the group with incorrect posture, yet in the Zig-Zag agility test, the difference in the results was not significant and this affected the COD deficit, which was higher. The vast majority of participants demonstrated postural defects and incorrect physiological curvatures of the spine. The occurrence of scoliotic posture was also observed. The body deflection angles indicated that athletes’ postural stability was good. However, it is worth noting that the majority demonstrated a tendency towards asymmetrical body deflections to the right or to the left, backwards direction. One-sided sports specialization leads to disturbances in the statics of the body, therefore, it becomes necessary to include postural re-education exercises in training.

The Disturbing Effect of Neuromuscular Fatigue on Postural Control Is Accentuated in the Premenstrual Phase in Female Athletes

This study explored the fatigue effect on postural control (PC) across menstrual cycle phases (MCPs) in female athletes. Isometric maximal voluntary contraction (IMVC), the center of pressure sway area (CoParea), CoP length in the medio-lateral (CoP_LX) and antero-posterior (CoP_LY) directions, and Y-balance test (YBT) were assessed before and after a fatiguing exercise during the follicular phase (FP), mid-luteal phase (LP), and premenstrual phase (PMP). Baseline normalized reach distances (NRDs) for the YBT were lower (p = 0.00) in the PMP compared to others MCPs, but the IMVC, CoParea, CoP_LX, and CoP_LY remained unchanged. After exercise, the IMVC and the NRD decrease was higher at PMP compared to FP (p = 0.00) and LP (p = 0.00). The CoParea, CoP_LX, and CoP_LY increase was higher in the PMP compared to FP (p = 0.00) and LP (p = 0.00). It was concluded that there is an accentuated PC impairment after exercise observed at PMP.

Fitness profiles of elite male Italian teams handball players

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to examine the fitness profile of the Italian national male Team-Handball players of different competitive level.

METHODS

Forty-one male handball players from the senior (N.=21, height 1.90±0.06m, body mass 94.04±11.59kg, BMI 26.13±2.45) to the junior category (N.=20, height 1.86±0.06m, body weight 84.99±12.52kg, BMI: 24.56±3.35) Italian National Teams participated in this study. Players were tested for lower and upper limbs muscle strength, change of direction ability and specific endurance. Lower limbs explosive strength was assessed with squat (SJ) countermovement (CMJ), stiff leg (stiffness) jumps. Explosive strength was assessed by measuring kinematic aspects of squat and bench exercises. Change of direction ability was assessed with the 505 test. The Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (YYIR1) was considered for specific endurance.

RESULTS

Large and significant differences (d>1; partial η²>0.14; P<0.01) between senior and junior national team players were found in anthropometrics, jumping, power, sprint, agility, and aerobic fitness (junior body weight accounting for 10% less than the senior one, P=0.021; SJ and CMJ in juniors smaller than the seniors by 15% and 12%, P=0.000 and P=0.001, respectively). Similar differences were found among positional roles (goalkeepers, backs, centers, pivots, wings), suggesting practical implications for training.

CONCLUSIONS

The differences between the competitive level and the playing role in relevant handball performance were reported in Italian national team players. The magnitude of the differences suggests the need of individual training approach when dealing with the young handball players.