Factors related to the incidence and severity of injuries in team handball

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and severity of injury in Greek team handball and to correlate the endogenous factors, the type of exercise, and the environment of team handball with the injuries of players at different levels. The study sample consisted of 216 male team handball players. Each player individually completed a questionnaire related to the injuries they had sustained during the previous 24 months. The results showed a high incidence and severity of injuries (42.6%) and (64.2%) respectively. The incidence of injuries had a correlation with the competitive level, previous injuries, and the localisation of an injury. The severity of an injury had a correlation with hospitalisation. The time of an injury, (that is, during training or at a match) also had a correlation with the competitive level of the players. Previous injuries showed a correlation with the recurrence of these injuries. In conclusion, it can be ascertained that team handball can be grouped with sports with a high risk factor for injury. The incidence, the severity, the localisation, the need for hospitalisation, the time and the recurrence of injuries, the competitive level of the players, previous injuries, and the level of competition are all related factors

Validity of Prediction Equations of Maximal Heart Rate in Physically Active Female Adolescents and the Role of Maturation

Background and objectives: Maximal heart rate (HRmax) is an important training and testing tool, especially in the context of evaluating intensity in exercise prescription; however, few studies have examined the validity of prediction equations of HRmax in physically active female adolescents and the role of maturation level. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the differences between measured and predicted HRmax in a sample of physically active female adolescents. Materials and Methods: Seventy-one selected volleyball players (age 13.3 ± 0.7 years, body mass 62.0 ± 7.2 kg, height 1.72 ± 0.06 m) performed a 20 m shuttle run endurance test, and the actual HRmax was compared with Tanaka HRmax (‘208 − 0.7 × age’) and Fox HRmax (‘220 − age’). Results: A large main effect of assessment method on HRmax was found (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.486) with Fox overestimating actual HRmax by 6.8 bpm (95% confidence intervals, CI; 4.2, 9.3) and Tanaka underestimating actual HRmax by −2.6 bpm (95% CI; −5.1, −0.1). The more matured participants had similar actual HRmax (mean difference −2.4 bpm; 95% CI; −6.5, 1.7; p = 0.242, d = −0.28), difference Fox − actual HRmax (1.5 bpm; 95% CI; −2.6, 5.6, p = 0.466, d = 0.17), and difference Tanaka − actual HRmax (1.7 bpm; 95% CI; −2.4, 5.8; p = 0.414, d = 0.19) to the less matured participants. Conclusions: These findings suggest that age-based prediction equations of HRmax developed in adult populations should be applied with caution in physically active female adolescents, and Tanaka should be preferred instead of the Fox equation