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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 11, No. 4
Publication Date: April 25, 2024
DOI:10.14738/assrj.114.16287.
Marai, R., Triki, R., Bougrine, H., Hammami, A., Khalfoun, J., Baaziz, M., & Abderrahman, A. B. (2024). Effect of Low-Intensity Interval
Training on Physical Performance and Blood Parameters Among Junior Handball Players. Advances in Social Sciences Research
Journal, 11(4). 91-99.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Effect of Low-Intensity Interval Training on Physical Performance
and Blood Parameters Among Junior Handball Players
Rasmi Marai
High Business School of Tunis, Tunisia
Raoua Triki
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of
Manouba, Tunisia and Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sports Performance
Optimization”, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS),
Tunis, Tunisia
Houda Bougrine
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of
Manouba, Tunisia and Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of
Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Gafsa, Tunisia
Amri Hammami
Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sports Performance Optimization”, National
Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia
Jihen Khalfoun
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of
Manouba, Tunisia and Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sports Performance
Optimization”, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS),
Tunis, Tunisia
Mohamed Baaziz
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of
Manouba, Tunisia,Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Gafsa,
University of Gafsa, Gafsa, Tunisia and Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sports
Performance Optimization”, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports
(CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia
Abderraouf Ben Abderrahman
Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Said, University of
Manouba, Tunisia and Tunisian Research Laboratory “Sports Performance
Optimization”, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS),
Tunis, Tunisia
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of low-intensity interval
training program (LIIT) on physical fitness and blood parameters among junior
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 11, Issue 4, April-2024
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
handball players. Thirty young players participated in this study and were divided
into two groups: an experimental group (n=15) which underwent a low-intensity
interval training program, and a control group (n=15) which underwent a
traditional training program. Blood parameters (hemoglobin (g/dl), mean
corpuscular hemoglobin MCH (pg), and hematocrit (%)) and physical capacities
(flexibility, speed, endurance, agility, upper body muscle strength, and power) were
evaluated before and after eight weeks of training in the two groups. At the
beginning and end of the eight-week program, significant differences between the
groups were observed. The experimental group exhibited better development
compared to the control group in the following parameters: endurance (2.77%,
p=0.03), speed (6.8%, p=0.001), power (17.09%, p=0.02), agility (4.22%, p=0.01),
flexibility (29.25%, p=0.01), and upper body strength capacity (8.82%, p=0.02). The
MCH was significantly higher in the experimental group (p=0.01). However, no
significant differences were observed for hemoglobin and hematocrit (p>0.05). Our
findings demonstrate that the low-intensity interval training intervention was
more effective than the traditional program in improving physical parameters and
mean corpuscular hemoglobin. The suggested low-intensity interval training
program could serve as a viable fitness strategy for aerobic sports.
Keywords: LIIT, physical capacity, blood parameters, team sport.
INTRODUCTION
Handball is a high-contact team sport that requires technical, tactical, and physical abilities [1,
2]. This sport involves high-intensity intermittent exercises, including running, jumping,
sprinting, and directional changes (e.g., 10- to 12-meter sprints lasting 2.3 seconds each; 50
turns per game) [3, 4]. Handball demands a combination of aerobic and anaerobic abilities to
support numerous repetitions of short-duration, high-intensity tasks combined with brief
recovery periods (i.e., 825 short-duration [2-6 seconds] high-intensity actions with 6-second
rests) [3, 5].
Both physical and technical handball-specific training are essential for handball players to
enhance intermittent aerobic efforts, speed, agility, strength, power, and ball throwing in both
offensive and defensive phases of the game.[3, 4] Furthermore, recent research emphasizes the
significance of physical strength for young male players at all training stages and the need for a
balance between strength and speed, which is a functional characteristic of the muscular and
other physiological systems [6].
On the other hand, low-volume, high-intensity interval training (LIIT) appears to be an effective
and practical method for improving physical fitness [7]. The fundamental principle of interval
training involves alternating periods of moderately intense exercise with periods of lower
intensity or complete rest for recovery. Low-volume interval training refers to sessions with a
limited amount of activity [8]. LIIT represents the minimum exercise intensity threshold for
developing aerobic capacity, typically at 40 - 45% of the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max)
[9]. While handball coaches and players seem to prioritize the development and enhancement
of specific physical performance, the effects of LIIT on various physical capacities such as
flexibility, speed, endurance, agility, upper body muscle strength, and power have not been
previously studied among young handball players.