Preventive movement program for female youth handball players

Abstract

Preventive movement program for female youth handball players -----Handball is extremely dynamic, involving a lot of running, pushing, colliding and falling. The body must adapt to these game situations and tolerate the possible inconveniences associated with them as much as possible. Prevention may play an even more important role in adolescent athletes, so it may be necessary to carry out as many preventive exercises as possible. The aim of the research is to examine the effectiveness of a preventive exercise program in youth handball players. The movement material focuses on the spine-core muscles, because the lower back is exposed to a lot of stress during sports activities. The purpose of the survey is to contribute to answering the following questions: How useful is the prevention program in terms of health preservation and sports career? How often should these exercises be performed, and how can their usefulness be measured? It would be important that not only the top athletes, but also the training coaches of the younger generation, incorpo- rate these and similar exercises into their training programs. After the general data survey of the youth handball players selected for the preventive exercise program (height, weight, age, years spent in the sport, time spent in weekly training), I assessed the condition of the core muscles of the participants in the study with 12 test exercises of the Hungarian Spine Society’s (MGT) posture improvement exercise. Two groups were then formed, one of which did not perform any additional movements in addition to the training (they are the control group, i.e. “K”). I gave the other team Posture Correction Training (GYT) for six weeks, twice as part of the training warm-up. After the end of the six weeks, I re-assessed the posture-improving test exercise for both groups. In the first assessment of the test exercises, the two groups produced almost identical results. After six weeks, in the new survey, the overall score averages were better in both groups compared to the initial values (GYT, measurement 1: 1,26±0,16 vs. measurement 2: 1,47±0,23, p<0,001, K , measurement 1: 1,41±0,15 vs. 1,49±0,1, p<0,05). When comparing the results of the GYT and the K group, we can see that the GYT cluster achieved significantly better results than the K group (p<0,05). There were also a few tasks in the test exercises where significantly better values were obtained the second time. Also, in both groups, more favorable results were demonstrated in the back and hip extensor exercises after six weeks. In the GYT group, a significant improvement was also observed in the exercises measuring standing squats and forward bending of the lumbar spine. The research proved that a shorter, six-week, regularly applied series of physical education free exercise exercises for posture correction training can be effective in improving posture and implementing spine prevention in youth handball players.