El uso del material alternativo en el aprendizaje del balonmano

El material alternativo, como recurso didáctico, en la sesión de balonmano es una solución creativa a la falta de medios que, por desgracia, sufren bastantes de los docentes y entrenadores que se dedican a la enseñanza de este deporte. Es una forma novedosa de contribuir al aprovechamiento de los múltiples productos de desecho que nuestra sociedad produce. A parte, y relacionado con diferentes ámbitos (formación, ocio y recreación, entrenamiento, etc.) la creación y construcción de material distinto al habitualmente empleado facilita, entre otras cuestiones, el acercamiento de posibles practicantes a este deporte; ya que se inician al mismo desde otras perspectivas. Por último, en este artículo se muestran algunas de las posibilidades de aplicación de este tipo de material a uno de los ámbitos anteriormente mencionados, el del entrenamiento deportivo

The Role of the Specific Strength Test in Handball Performance: Exploring Differences across Competitive Levels and Age Groups

The aim of this study was to determine if specific physical tests are sufficiently discriminant to differentiate players of similar anthropometric characteristics, but of different playing levels. Physical tests were conducted analyzing specific strength, throwing velocity, and running speed tests. Thirty-six male junior handball players (n = 36; age 19.7 1.8 years; 185.6 6.9 cm; 83.1 10.3 kg; 10.6 3.2 years of experience) from two different levels of competition participated in the study: NT = 18 were world top-level elite players, belonging to the Spanish junior men’s national team (National Team = NT) and A = 18 players of the same age and anthropometric conditions, who were selected from Spanish third league men’s teams (Amateur = A). The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the two groups in all physical tests, except for two-step-test velocity and shoulder internal rotation. We conclude that a battery combining the Specific Performance Test and the Force Development Standing Test is useful in identifying talent and differentiating between elite and sub-elite players. The current findings suggest that running speed tests and throwing tests are essential in selecting players, regardless of age, sex, or type of competition. The results shed light on the factors that differentiate players of different levels and can help coaches in selecting players.FEDER/ Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities— State Research Agency (Dossier number: RTI2018-099723-B-I00

Effects of the Type of Sports Practice on the Executive Functions of Schoolchildren

There is a close relationship between the development of complex motor skills and executive functions during childhood. This study aimed to analyze the differences in different dimensions of executive functions in children practicing an open-skill sport (handball) and a closed-skill sport (athletics) and controls who did not participate in sports activities after a 12-week intervention period. School-aged male and female subjects (n = 90; mean +/- standard deviation = 11.45 +/- 0.68 years) participated in a non-randomized controlled study. Data analysis was performed using the STATA V.15 statistical software. The athletics intervention promoted semantic fluency (p = 0.007), whereas handball increased inhibition (p = 0.034). Additionally, physical activity improved in both intervention groups (p = < 0.001), whereas sprint performance improved in the handball group following intervention (p = 0.008), lower body muscular power improved in athletics (p = 0.04), and evidence of improvement in upper body muscular strength was noted in handball (p = 0.037). In turn, an increase in the Physical Activity Questionnaire for older Children score showed an association with the Standard Ten scores of executive functions. In conclusion, compared to controls, both athletics and handball induced meaningful improvements in physical activity and executive functions. However, sport-specific adaptations were noted after athletics (i.e., semantic fluency and lower body muscular power) and handball (i.e., inhibition, sprint, and upper-body muscular strength)

Concurrent training and interindividual response in women with a high number of metabolic syndrome risk factors

The non-responders (NRs) after exercise training have been poorly studied in populations with morbid obesity. The purpose of this study was to determine the NR prevalence after 20 weeks of concurrent training of morbidly obese women with a high or low number of metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors. Twenty-eight women with morbid obesity participated in an exercise training intervention and were allocated into two groups distributed based on a high (≥3, n = 11) or low number (<3, n = 17) of MetS risk factors. The main outcomes were waist circumference (WC), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), high-density lipids (HDL-c), triglycerides (Tg), and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, and secondary outcomes were body composition, anthropometric and physical fitness, determined before and after 20 weeks of concurrent training. NRs were defined as previously used technical error cut-off points for the MetS outcomes. Significantly different (all p < 0.05) prevalences of NRs between the H-MetS vs. L-MetS groups (respectively) in WC (NRs 18.2 % vs. 41.1 %, p < 0.0001), SBP (NRs 72.7 % vs. 47.0 %, p = 0.022), DBP (NRs 54.5 % vs. 76.4 %, p < 0.0001), FPG (NRs 100% vs. 64.8 %, p < 0.0001), and HDL-c (NRs 90.9 % vs. 64.7 %, p = 0.012) were observed. In addition, the H-MetS group evidenced significant changes on ΔSBP (−10.2 ± 11.4 mmHg), ΔFPG (−5.8 ± 8.2 mg/dl), ΔHDL-c (+4.0 ± 5.9 mg/dl), and ΔTg (−8.8 ± 33.8 mg/dl), all p < 0.05. The L-MetS group only showed significant changes in ΔWC (−3.8 ± 5.0 cm, p = 0.009). Comparing H-MetS vs. L-MetS groups, significant differences were observed in ΔFPG (−5.8 ± 8.2 vs. +0.3 ± 3.2 mg/dl, p = 0.027), but not in other MetS outcomes. In conclusion, 20 weeks of concurrent training promotes greater beneficial effects in morbidly obese patients with a high number of MetS risk factors. However, the NR prevalence for improving MetS outcomes was significantly superior in these more-diseased groups in SBP, FPG, and HDL-c, independent of their major training-induced effects.Recualificacion del Profesorado UniversitarioUniversity de La Frontera, ChileModalidad Maria ZambranoUniversidad de Granada/Ministerio de Universidades y Fondos Next Generation de la Union Europea DI21-0030 FRO189

Exercise Training Program Improves Subjective Sleep Quality and Physical Fitness in Severely Obese Bad Sleepers

Background: Sleep quality is an important modulator of neuroendocrine function, as sleep problems are related to metabolic and endocrine alterations. Objective: The main objective was to determine the effects of an exercise training program on the sleep quality of severely obese patients with sleep problems. The secondary objective was to determine the relationship between fitness and anthropometric parameters with sleep quality scores. Methods: Thirty severely obese patients participated in 16 weeks of PA intervention (age: 39.30 +/- 11.62 y, BMI: 42.75 +/- 5.27 kg/m(2)). Subjective sleep quality, anthropometric parameters, and fitness (i.e., handgrip strength and cardiorespiratory fitness) were measured. Results: Two groups were defined as good sleepers (n = 15, 38.06 +/- 12.26, men = 1) and bad sleepers (n = 15, 40.53 +/- 11.23, men = 3). The good sleeper group reported improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness (61.33 +/- 68.75 m vs. 635.33 +/- 98.91 m, p = 0.003) and handgrip strength (29.63 +/- 9.29 kg vs. 31.86 +/- 7.17 kg, p = 0.049). The bad sleeper group improved their cardiorespiratory fitness (472.66 +/- 99.7 m vs. 611.33 +/- 148.75 m, p = 0.001). In terms of sleep quality dimensions, the bad sleeper group improved their subjective sleep quality (p < 0.001), sleep latency (p = 0.045), sleep duration (p = 0.031), and habitual sleep efficiency (p = 0.015). Comparing the changes in both groups ( increment ), there were differences in subjective sleep quality scores ( increment = 2.23 vs. increment = -3.90, p = 0.002), where 86.6% of the bad sleeper group improved sleep quality (p = 0.030). An increase in handgrip strength was correlated to improving sleep quality scores (r = -0.49, p = 0.050). Conclusions: Severely obese bad sleepers improved their subjective sleep quality, the components of sleep, and cardiorespiratory fitness through an exercise training program. Improvement in subjective sleep quality was linked to an increase in handgrip strength.University de La Frontera, Chile Project DI21-0030 FRO 1895Universidad de Granada/Ministerio de Universidades y Fondos Next Generation de la Union Europe

The Social Distance Impacts from COVID-19 Pandemic on the Development of Two Orders of a Concurrent Training Programme for Morbidly Obese Patients

Background: Although there is relevant information regarding the consequences of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), little is known about the impact of the imposed social confinement (at home) on the development of exercise training programmes in populations with morbid obesity. Aim: To describe the effects of the imposed COVID-19 confinement on the cardiometabolic health benefits acquired through a concurrent training programme that started before the pandemic in populations with morbid obesity. Methods: This was an experimental randomized clinical study, in which sedentary morbidly obese women were assigned 1:1 to a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) plus resistance training (RT) group (HIIT + RT; n = 11; BMI 42.1 +/- 6.6) or to the same exercise dose, but in different order group of RT plus HIIT group (RT + HIIT; n = 7; BMI 47.5 +/- 8.4). Both groups undertook two sessions/week. When COVID-19 confinement at home started, a post-test was applied in January 2020 (Post1) and after 20 months (Post2). The main outcomes were waist circumference (WC), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), high-density lipids (HDL-c), triglycerides (Tg), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Results: In the HIIT + RT group, the WC showed significant increases from Post1 to Post2 (Delta + 3.1 cm, p = 0.035); in the RT + HIIT group, it decreased from Post1 to Post2 (Delta - 4.8 cm, p = 0.028). In the HIIT + RT group, SBP showed significant increases from Post1 to Post2 (Delta + 6.2 mmHg, p = 0.041); the RT + HIIT group decreased SBP from Pre0 to Post1 (Delta - 7.2 mmHg, p = 0.026) and increased DBP from Pre0 to Post1 (Delta + 8.1 mmHg, p = 0.015). Tg in the HIIT + RT group decreased from Pre0 to Post1 (Delta - 40.1 mg/dL, p = 0.023) but increased from Post1 to Post2 (Delta + 86.3 mg/dL, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The COVID-19 social confinement worsened metabolic syndrome (MetS) outcomes that had improved from 20 weeks' RT + HIIT during the training period, such as WC, SBP, and Tg from HIIT + RT, when, worryingly, SBP increased to another more serious clinical classification in both groups.University de La Frontera, Chile Project DI21-0030 FRO1895Universidad de Granada/Ministerio de Universidades y Fondos Next Generation de la Union Europe

Analysis of grip specificity on force production in grapplers and its effect on bilateral deficit grip specificity and bilateral deficit in force production among grapplers

The use of strength training is important for athletes in combat sports such as judo and jiu-jitsu. Specificity is key when prescribing strength training programs for athletes, considering maximal strength, muscular power and strengthendurance. Grappling combat sports require grip control, which is necessary to execute throwing techniques and groundwork. The aim of this study was to verify the bilateral strength deficit in general and in grappling combat sportspecific action in the control group and grapplers. A sample of 73 subjects, divided into 2 groups, was used: the Student Group (15 females and 16 males) and the Grappler Group (29 males and 13 females). The male and female participants attended four laboratory sessions over a 48-hour interval, the first two to familiarize themselves with the Electromechanical Functional Dynamometer (EMFD), and the last two to collect maximal isometric strength data, using a standard grip and a judo/jiujitsu specific grip. Significant differences in mean and peak forces (p < 0.001) were found, with high performance combat sport athletes having greater maximal isometric strength compared to students both bilaterally and unilaterally (p < 0.001). All comparisons also indicated higher values for males compared to females (p < 0.001). The results suggest that specific training in combat sports as well as sex differences play a significant role in maximal isometric strength performance. The type of grip used affects the application of force in the upper limb isometric strength tests, finding a main effect of grip type (p < 0.001), with the standard grip obtaining higher levels. However, the dominance between hands remains constant. More research is needed on specific judogi/jiu-jitsu-gi grips and their impact on maximal isometric strength with the EMFD

Efectos de diferentes protocolos de fortalecimiento de miembro inferior sobre la fuerza, potencia y actividad muscular en sujetos sedentarios y físicamente inactivos: una revisión sistemática

The purpose of this systematic review was: a) to determine the quality of evidence from studies assessing the effects of different lower limb strengthening protocols on muscle activity, strength, and power in sedentary and/or physically inactive subjects; and b) to determine the effectiveness of lower extremity strengthening protocols on muscle activity, strength, and power in sedentary and/or physically inactive subjects. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements were followed using keywords associated with strength training, lower limb, sedentary, and physical inactivity. Four databases were used: Medline via PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and SPORTDiscus. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. A total of 164 articles were retrieved, six included in this review. Four studies were classified as fair methodological quality, and two were considered of good methodological quality. Due to the heterogeneity in methodological aspects and the limited number of articles including the variables under study, it was not possible to establish a measure of effectiveness of lower limb strengthening protocols on muscle activity, strength, or power. In conclusion, strength training in the lower limb seems to improve the levels of strength, power, and muscular activity in sedentary subjects. However, due to the limited number of articles, methodological variability, and training methods used, it is necessary to conduct new studies that control these variables.El propósito de esta revisión sistemática fue: a) determinar la calidad de la evidencia de los estudios que evaluaron los efectos de diferentes protocolos de fortalecimiento de miembros inferiores sobre la actividad, la fuerza y la potencia muscular en sujetos sedentarios y/o físicamente inactivos; y b) determinar la efectividad de los protocolos de fortalecimiento sobre la actividad, fuerza y potencia muscular de miembros inferiores en sujetos sedentarios y/o físicamente inactivos. Se siguieron los criterios PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyse) utilizando palabras clave asociadas con el entrenamiento de fuerza, extremidades inferiores, sedentarismo e inactividad física. Se revisaron cuatro bases de datos: Medline vía PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus y SPORTDiscus. La calidad metodológica se evaluó mediante la escala PEDro. Se recuperaron 164 artículos en total, seis incluidos en esta revisión. Cuatro estudios se clasificaron como de calidad metodológica regular y dos se consideraron de buena calidad metodológica. Debido a la heterogeneidad en los aspectos metodológicos y al escaso número de artículos que incluyeron las variables en estudio, no fue posible establecer una medida de efectividad de los protocolos de fortalecimiento de miembros inferiores sobre la actividad, la fuerza o la potencia muscular. En conclusión, el entrenamiento de fuerza en el miembro inferior parece mejorar los niveles de fuerza, potencia y actividad muscular en sujetos sedentarios. No obstante, debido al número limitado de artículos, la variabilidad metodológica y los métodos de entrenamiento utilizados, es necesario realizar nuevos estudios que controlen estas variables

La percepción subjetiva del esfuerzo para el control de la carga de entrenamiento en una temporada en un equipo de balonmano

The aim of this research is to study the applicability of the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) from a double perspective. Firstly, RPE helps coaches monitor training load over a season in team sports. Secondly RPE is used as an ad hoc tool for daily monitoring of planned training by the coaching staff. Heart rate reserve (HRR) was used to regulate the internal load of each session. Thirteen players from a Top Division Handball team participated in the research carried out over a complete season. The results showed RPE is a good indicator of training load in team sports and RPE is also a valid procedure to compare load values planned by coaches (RPEp) with actual values (RPEg) (rxy = .792; p < .01). It can be concluded that RPE and HRR (rxy = .839; p < .01) together are reliable, non-invasive measures for monitoring training load and they also help determine the physical fitness of players throughout the season

Anthropometric Parameters, Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Executive Functions among Primary School Children

Physical activity during childhood and adolescence favors brain development and cognitive functioning, particularly the executive functions. This study aimed to assess potential associations between anthropometric parameters, physical activity, physical fitness, and executive functions among elementary school children returning to school after the COVID-19 lockdown in Chile. School-age male and female participants (n = 90; age, 10-12 years) participated in the study. To determine the association between variables, a multivariable linear regression analysis was performed. Higher fat-related anthropometric indexes were associated with lower working memory, cognitive flexibility, planning, and attention (r = -0.55 to -0.22; p = 0.031 to <0.001). In contrast, higher physical activity levels, better sprint performance, higher lower-body muscular power, and greater upper-body muscular strength were associated with better working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibition, planning, and/or attention (r = 0.19 to -0.54; p = 0.04 to <0.001). Current results consistently suggest the need for adequate levels of physical activity, physical fitness, and anthropometric parameters among the school-age population to promote healthy and adequate executive functions