Relationships Between Olympic Weightlifting Exercises, Peak Power of the Upper and Lower Limb, Muscle Volume and Throwing Ball Velocity in Elite Male Handball Players

Abstract

Background This study aimed to investigate relationships between peak power (PP) as measured by upper limb (PPUL) and lower limb (PPLL) force velocity tests, maximal upper limb force assessed by clean and jerk (1RMCJ) and snatch (1RMSE) exercises, estimates of local muscle volume and throwing ball velocity.

Methods Thirty elite male handball players volunteered for the investigation (age: 20.3 ± 2.1 years; body mass: 82.5 ± 10.5 kg; height: 1.85 ± 0,07 %; body fat: 13.1 ± 2.1 %). Lower and upper limb force velocity tests were performed on appropriately modified forms of a Monark cycle ergometer with measurement of PPUL and PPLL, and the corresponding respective maximal forces (F0UL and F0LL) and velocities (V0UL and V0LL). Snatched (SN) and clean and jerk (CJ) exercises were performed to one repetition maximum (1RM). Handball throwing velocity was measured with jump shot (JS) without run-up (TW) and 3 steps shot (T3 step). Muscle volumes of the upper and lower limbs were estimated with a standard anthropometric kit.

Results The 1RM CJ proved to be the most important predictor for throwing velocity. All types of throwing showed a high correlation with this parameter (JS: r = 0.75; TW: r = 0.62; T3 step: r = 0.66). The highest relation was detected between jump shot and 1RM snatch technique (r = 0.82). The PPUL muscle volume correlated highly with PPUL absolute power (r = 0.70). In contrast, we did not find any comparable relations for the lower limb (muscle volume vs. PPUL absolute power: r = 0.07).

Conclusions Our results highlight the contribution of both lower and upper limbs to handball throwing velocity, suggesting the need for coaches to include upper and lower limb strength weightlifting exercises and power programs when improving the throwing velocity of handball players.

Zusammenfassung

Fragestellung Ziel der Studie war es, die Beziehungen zwischen der maximalen Ergometerleistung der oberen (PPUL) und unteren (PPLL) Extremität und der Maximalkraft (Umsetzen und Stoßen, olympisches Gewichtheben: Reißen) zur Wurfgeschwindigkeit und zum lokalen Muskelvolumen aufzuklären.

Material und Methoden 30 professionelle Handballspieler nahmen an der Untersuchung teil (Alter: 20,3 ± 2,1 Jahre; Gewicht: 82,5 ± 10,5 kg; Größe: 1,85 ± 0,07 m; Körperfett: 13,1 ± 2,1 %). Die Ergometrietests der oberen und unteren Extremität wurden auf einem modifizierten Ergometer (Monark-cycle) unter Messung der PPUL und PPLL durchgeführt. Hierbei wurden die maximalen Kräfte und Geschwindigkeiten ermittelt. Das 1RM wurde für die Testübungen olympisches Gewichtheben/Reißen (SN) sowie Umsetzen und Stoßen (CJ) bestimmt. Die maximalen Wurfgeschwindigkeiten wurden für 3 Wurftypen (Sprungwurf, Schlagwurf aus dem Stand, Schlagwurf aus der Bewegung (3 Schritte) mit Stemmschritt) gemessen. Überdies erfolgte die Messung der Muskelvolumina.

Ergebnisse Die Maximalkraftleistung in der Testübung Umsetzen und Stoßen erwies sich als wichtigster Prädiktor für die Wurfgeschwindigkeit. Alle Wurftypen korrelierten hoch mit den Maximalkraftparametern (Sprungwurf: r = 0,75; Schlagwurf/Stand: r = 0,62; Schlagwurf/Bewegung: r = 0,66). Die höchste Korrelation ließ sich für die Parameter Sprungwurf und SN berechnen (r = 0,82). Das Muskelvolumen der oberen Extremität korrelierte hoch mit der PPUL (r = 0,70). Im Gegensatz dazu fanden sich keine vergleichbaren Beziehungen zur unteren Extremität (Muskelvolumen untere Extremität vs. PPUL: r = 0,07).

Schlussfolgerung Die Ergebnisse bekräftigen die Notwendigkeit eines Maximalkrafttrainings im Bereich der oberen und unteren Extremität zum Zwecke der Erhöhung der Wurfgeschwindigkeit. Für die Trainingspraxis ergibt sich die Empfehlung, spezifische Kräftigungsprogramme in das Handballtraining zu integrieren.

Key words

force velocity test - weightlifting exercises - muscle volume - upper limbs - lower limbs

Schlüsselwörter

Ergometertest - Krafttraining - Muskelvolumen - untere Extremität - obere Extremität

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