Maite Ruesta

Effects of heavy resistance training on maximal and explosive force production, endurance and serum hormones in adolescent handball players.

Abstract To determine the effects of 6-weeks of heavy-resistance training on physical fitness and serum hormone status in adolescents (range 14–16 years old) 19 male handball players were divided into two different groups: a handball training group (NST, n = 10), and a handball and heavy-resistance strength training group (ST, n = 9). A third group of 4 handball goalkeepers of similar age served as a control group (C, n = 4). After the 6-week training period, the ST group showed an improvement in maximal dynamic strength of the leg extensors (12.2%; P < 0.01) and the upper extremity muscles (23%; P < 0.01), while no changes were observed in the NST and C groups. Similar differences were observed in the maximal isometric unilateral leg extension forces. The height of the vertical jump increased in the NST group from 29.5 (SD 4) cm to 31.4 (SD 5) cm (P < 0.05) while no changes were observed in the ST and C groups. A significant increase was observed in the ST group in the velocity of the throwing test [from 71.7 (SD 7) km · h−1 to 74.0 (SD 7) km · h−1; P < 0.001] during the 6-week period while no changes were observed in the NST and C groups. During a submaximal endurance test running at 11 km · h−1, a significant decrease in blood lactate concentration occurred in the NST group [from 3.3 (SD 0.9) mmol · l−1 to 2.4 (SD 0.8) mmol · l−1; P < 0.01] during the experiment, while no change was observed in the ST or C groups. Finally, a significant increase (P < 0.01) was noted in the testosterone:cortisol ratio in the C group, while the increase in the NST group approached statistical significance (P < 0.08) and no changes in this ratio occurred in the ST group. The present findings suggested that the addition of 6-weeks of heavy resistance training to the handball training resulted in gains in maximal strength and throwing velocity but it compromised gains in leg explosive force production and endurance running. The tendency for a compromised testosterone:cortisol ratio observed in the ST group could have been associated with a state of overreaching or overtraining.

Maximal strength and power, endurance performance, and serum hormones in middle-aged and elderly men.

PURPOSE To examine maximal strength, power and muscle cross-sectional area, maximal and submaximal cycling endurance characteristics, and serum hormone concentrations of testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), and cortisol (C) in middle-aged and elderly men. METHODS Maximal knee extension force (isometric; MIF(KE)), power-load curves during concentric actions with loads ranging from 15% to 70% of 1 RM half-squat (1RM(HS)), muscle cross-sectional area of quadriceps femoris (CSA(QF)), workload, heart rate and lactate accumulation during incremental cycling, and serum hormone concentrations were measured in 26 middle-aged (M42 yr) and 21 elderly men (M65 yr). RESULTS The 1RM(HS) (14%), MIF(KE) (24%) and CSA(QF) (13%) were lower in M65 than in M42 (P < 0.05-0.01). Power during submaximal actions was lower (P < 0.05-0.001) in M65 than in M42, but the differences disappeared when expressed relative to CSA(QF). Serum FT was in M42 higher (P < 0.05) than in M65. Maximal workload, maximal heart rate and peak blood lactate during cycling in M65 were 31%, 11%, and 20% lower than in M42 (P < 0.01). During submaximal cycling blood lactate rose more rapidly with increasing workload in M65 than in M42 (P < 0.05-0.01), but the differences disappeared when expressed relative to CSA(QF). Significant correlations existed between individual values of serum FT:C ratio, C and T, and those of muscle strength and maximal workload. CONCLUSION Declines in maximal strength, muscle mass, and endurance performance seem to take place with increasing age, although muscle power and demand for aerobic energy per unit of muscle tissue during submaximal loads remain similar. The balance between anabolic and catabolic hormones in aging people over the years may be associated with age-related decreased strength and declines in maximal cycling workload.

Maximal strength and power, muscle mass, endurance and serum hormones in weightlifters and road cyclists

Maximal strength, power, muscle cross-sectional area, maximal and submaximal cycling endurance characteristics and serum hormone concentrations of testosterone, free testosterone and cortisol were examined in three groups of men: weightlifters (n = 11), amateur road cyclists (n = 18) and age-matched controls (n = 12). Weightlifters showed 45–55% higher power values than road cyclists and controls, whereas the differences in maximal strength and muscle mass were only 15% and 20%, respectively. These differences were maintained when average power output was expressed relative to body mass or relative to muscle cross-sectional area. Road cyclists recorded 44% higher maximal workloads, whereas submaximal blood lactate concentration was 50–55% lower with increasing workload than in controls and weightlifters. In road cyclists, workloads associated with blood lactate concentrations of 2 and 4 mmol · l−1 were 50–60% higher and occurred at a higher percentage of maximal workload than in weightlifters or controls. Basal serum total testosterone and free testosterone concentrations were lower in elite amateur cyclists than in age-matched weightlifters or untrained individuals. Significant negative correlations were noted between the individual values of maximal workload, workloads at 2 and 4 mmol · l−1 and the individual values of muscle power output (r = −0.37 to −0.49), as well as the individual basal values of serum total testosterone and free testosterone (r = −0.39 to −0.41). These results indicate that the specific status of the participants with respect to training, resistance or endurance is important for the magnitude of the neuromuscular, physiological and performance differences observed between weightlifters and road cyclists. The results suggest that, in cycling, long-term endurance training may interfere more with the development of muscle power than with the development of maximal strength, probably mediated by long-term cycling-related impairment in anabolic hormonal status.

Effects of an Entire Season on Physical Fitness in Elite Female Handball Players

PURPOSE Sixteen elite female handball players were studied to examine the effects of an entire season on anthropometric characteristics, physical fitness, and throwing velocity. METHODS One-repetition-maximum bench press (1RMBP), jumping explosive strength, power-load relationship of the leg and arm extensor muscles, 5- and 15-m sprint running time, endurance running, and handball throwing velocity were assessed in four periods. Individual volumes and intensities of training and competition were quantified for 11 activities. RESULTS During the season, significant increases (P < 0.05-0.01) occurred in fat-free mass (1.8 +/- 1.2%), 1RMBP (11 +/- 7.4%), bench press (12-21%) and half-squat (7-13%) muscle power output, vertical jumping height (12 +/- 7.2%), throwing velocity (8 +/- 5.9%), and a significant decrease in percent body fat (9 +/- 8.7%). No changes were observed in sprint and endurance running. Significant correlations (P < 0.05-0.01) were observed between time devoted to games and changes in velocity at submaximal loads during bench press actions, as well as between changes in muscle velocity output of the upper and lower extremities and changes in throwing velocity. Changes in percent body fat or body mass correlated (P < 0.01) positively with changes in maximal strength and muscle power. CONCLUSION The handball season resulted in significant increases in anthropometric characteristics, physical fitness, and throwing velocity. The correlations observed suggest the importance of including explosive strength exercises of the knee and elbow extensions. Special attention may be needed to be paid to the mode of body fat loss, to increase endurance capacity without interfering in strength gains. Official and training games may be an adequate stimulus for enhancing certain physical fitness characteristics in female elite handball players.

Are there any differences in physical fitness and throwing velocity between national and international elite female handball players

Abstract Granados,C, Izquierdo,M, Ibáñez,J, Ruesta,M, and Gorostiaga,EM. Are there any differences in physical fitess and throwing velocity between national and international elite female handball players? J Strength Cond Res 27(3): 723–732, 2013—This study compared physical characteristics in a 2003 national elite female team (NE; n = 16; fourth in the Spanish Championship) to the same team when it reached international level in 2009 (IE; n = 14; winner of the Spanish Championship and the European Handball Cup). Body height, body mass, body fat, and fat-free mass, 1-repetition maximum bench press (1RMBP), vertical jumping height, handball throwing velocity, power-load relationship of the leg and arm extensor muscles, 5- and 15-m sprint running time, and running endurance were measured in the second competitive mesocycle of a season. Results revealed that, compared with NE, IE players presented similar values in body mass, body height, sprint running time, handball throwing velocity, and jumping, but higher values (p < 0.01–0.05) in age (17%), 1RMBP (15%), power-load relationship of the arm (16%), and leg (10%) extensors, and endurance running velocities (7%). Significant correlations (r = 0.71–0.72, p < 0.05) were observed in IE, but not in NE, between individual values of standing throw and individual values of power at 30% of 1RMBP, and individual values of power at 60% of body mass during half-squat actions. The present results suggest that more experienced, powerful and aerobically conditioned players are at an advantage in international-level female handball. The ball throwing velocity of international elite female handball players depends on their ability to produce muscle power at submaximal loads with the upper and lower extremities. However, in lower-level players, this depends on the level of performance at maximal strength of the upper extremities.

Heart Rate-Based Prediction of Fixed Blood Lactate Thresholds in Professional Team-Sport Players.

Abstract Garcia-Tabar, I, Llodio, I, Sánchez-Medina, L, Ruesta, M, Ibañez, J, and Gorostiaga, EM. Heart rate–based prediction of fixed blood lactate thresholds in professional team-sport players. J Strength Cond Res 29(10): 2794–2801, 2015—The aim of this study was to investigate whether the speed associated with 90% of maximal heart rate (S90%HRmax) could predict speeds at fixed blood lactate concentrations of 3 mmol·L−1 (S3mM) and 4 mmol·L−1 (S4mM). Professional team-sport players of futsal (n = 10), handball (n = 16), and basketball (n = 10) performed a 4-stage discontinuous progressive running test followed, if exhaustion was not previously achieved, by an additional maximal continuous incremental running test to attain maximal heart rate (HRmax). The individual S3mM, S4mM, and S90%HRmax were determined by linear interpolation. S3mM (11.6 ± 1.5 km·h−1) and S4mM (12.5 ± 1.4 km·h−1) did not differ (p > 0.05) from S90%HRmax (12.0 ± 1.2 km·h−1). Very large significant (p < 0.001) relationships were found between S90%HRmax and S3mM (r = 0.82; standard error of the estimates [SEE] = 0.87 km·h−1), as well as between S90%HRmax and S4mM (r = 0.82; SEE = 0.87 km·h−1). S3mM and S4mM inversely correlated with %HRmax associated with running speeds of 10 and 12 km·h−1 (r = 0.78–0.81; p < 0.001; SEE = 0.94–0.87 km·h−1). In conclusion, S3mM and S4mM can be accurately predicted by S90%HRmax in professional team-sport players.