Changes in Cardiorespiratory Fitness during a Season in Elite Female Soccer, Basketball, and Handball Players
Source abstract
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to examine and detect the changes in cardiorespiratory fitness of female soccer, basketball, and handball players during an annual training cycle. In the study, 19 soccer players (23.2 ± 4.3 years), 26 basketball players (21.1 ± 5.4 years), and 26 handball players (21.1 ± 4.2 years) participated. All participants underwent anthropometric measurements and a laboratory maximal oxygen uptake test (VO2max) at the beginning of the preparation training period, in the middle of the competitive season, and at the end of it. VO2max showed significant changes in all three team sports from the initial measurement to the final, with a significant value increase in the middle of the competitive season and a small drop at the end (soccer 52.1 ± 5.6 vs. 59.6 ± 6.3 vs. 53.5 ± 5.4, basketball 44.6 ± 5.8 vs. 50.3 ± 8.5 vs. 45.9 ± 6.4, and handball 47.9 ± 4.8 vs. 49.1 ± 5.3 vs. 46.7 ± 4.9 mL/kg/min) (p < 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, the cardiorespiratory fitness of female soccer, basketball, and handball players was significantly improved in the middle of the competitive season, probably due to the development of physical capacity. The decrease in cardiorespiratory fitness at the end of the competitive season, which was observed in all three team sport athletes, possibly occurred due to the differentiation in the training program.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Sports Performance and Training · Cardiovascular and exercise physiology · Sports injuries and prevention
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
School of Physical Education and Sports Science, Department of Competitive Sports, Division of Team Handball, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, New Buildings of Laboratories, University Campus of Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Laboratory of Exercise Physiology & Biochemistry, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
School of Health and Caring Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
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