Effects of Heavy-load Resistance Training

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy
• Interventions: Other: RT; Other: CON

• Registration Number: NCT06356935
• Lead Sponsor: University of Southern Denmark

Brief Summary

The study aims to investigate effects of 8-weeks of heavy-load resistance training on mechanical muscle function and functional performance in elite female team handball players from the Danish Women's Handball League. Players will be randomly assigned to either a resistance training group (RT) or serves as training-as-usual controls (CON).

Detailed Description

The study aims to examine how an eight-week heavy-load resistance training regimen affects both mechanical muscle function and functional performance in elite female team handball players. Given the sport's demands for rapid and forceful muscle actions, understanding the impact of such training on functional performance is crucial.

Players from four clubs in the Danish Women's Handball League, will be randomly block randomized (one block=one club) into two groups: the heavy-load resistance training group (RT), and the control group (CON). Each group contains players from 2 clubs. The study will conduct a battery of tests to evaluate various aspects of mechanical muscle function and performance, including isometric knee extensor and flexor peak torque, countermovement jump (CMJ) power/work, and functional measures like sprinting, jump height, and agility performance.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-03-17
• Primary Completion: 2023-08-03
• Study Completion: 2023-08-03
• Study First Submitted: 2024-03-26
• Status Verified: 2024-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-04-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-04-04
• Study First Posted: 2024-04-10
• Last Update Posted: 2024-04-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Playing in the Danish Women's Handball League.

Exclusion Criteria

• Absent from team handball training for more than two weeks due to injuries, within the six months preceding PRE-testing.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Resistance training	RT	Assigned to heavy-load undulating resistance training.
Control	CON	Training-as-usual off-season strength and conditioning training, programs provided by respective clubs

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Explosive muscle strength	Eight week off-season	Rate of torque development - (Nm/s)/kg
Jump ability	Eight week off-season	Countermovement jump height - cm
Acceleration capacity	Eight week off-season	Sprint performance - seconds
Agility performance	Eight week off-season	Game-based agility performance - seconds

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Southern Denmark; 🇩🇰 Odense, Denmark