ANALYSIS OF FATIGUE DEVELOPMENT DURING ELITE

MALE HANDBALL MATCHES

SUSANA C.A. PÓVOAS,1,2 ANTÓNIO A.M.R. ASCENSÃO,3 JOSÉ MAGALHÃES,3 ANDRÉ F.T. SEABRA,3
PETER KRUSTRUP,4,5 JOSÉ M.C. SOARES,6 AND ANTÓNIO N.C. REBELO6
1
Research Center in Sports, Health Sciences and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal; 2Maia Institute of Higher
Education, Research Centre in Sport and Physical Activity, Maia, Portugal; 3Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and
Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; 4Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental
Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom; 5Copenhagen Center for Team Sport and Health, Department of
Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; and 6Center of Research, Education,
Innovation and Intervention in Sport, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

ABSTRACT
Póvoas, SCA, Ascensão, AAMR, Magalhães, J, Seabra, AFT,
Krustrup, P, Soares, JMC, and Rebelo, ANC. Analysis of
fatigue development during elite male handball matches.
J Strength Cond Res 28(9): 2640–2648, 2014—This study
aimed at describing the physiological demands and fatigue
development during elite male handball matches. Our hypoth-
esis was that players perform multiple high-intensity activities
during periods of the game and develop temporary and end-
match neuromuscular fatigue. Time-motion analyses and heart
rate (HR) recordings were performed in 40 players during 12
competitive matches. Blood samples were collected, and
certain periods during elite male handball games and that
physical performance is impaired both temporarily during
and toward the end of games confirming our hypothesis.
These findings enables physical trainers and coaches to plan
and design proper game-specific training exercises aiming at
delaying both temporary and end-game fatigue and
strengthen the physiological rationale for the need for substi-
tutions in various stages of match-play.
KEY WORDS activity profile, heart rate, blood lactate,
neuromuscular performance, YYIE2
INTRODUCTION

sprint, jump, and intermittent exercise performance (Yo-Yo
Intermittent Endurance level 2 test [YYIE2]) was assessed
for 18 players at baseline conditions and after 2 competitive
matches, and additional blood sampling and testing were
performed for 12 of these players during a friendly match.
The time spent with high-intensity running (4.4 6 2.0 to
3.1 6 1.7%), the frequency of demanding actions (61 6 5
to 54 6 6), and the time with HR above 80% HRmax (62 6 21
to 41 6 17%) were lowered from the first to the second half.
Average blood lactate during the match was 3.6 6 2.1 (1.3–
8.6) mM. Plasma free fatty acids (FFA), glycerol, glucose, and
uric acid increased (p # 0.05) during the first half and plasma
FFA and glycerol increased further (p # 0.05) during the
second half. After an intense period in the second half, sprint
performance was decreased by 3.9 6 4.9%. After the match,
YYIE2 (33.4 6 8.7%), vertical jump (7.4 6 6.5%), and 20-m
sprint performance (1.6 6 2.6%) was lower (p # 0.05) than
at baseline. This study showed that the intensity is high in
Address correspondence to Susana C.A. Póvoas, spovoas@docentes.
ismai.pt.
28(9)/2640–2648
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
Ó 2014 National Strength and Conditioning Association
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H
andball is considered a complex highly
demanding intermittent sport, since it involves
multiple high-intensity runs (18,21), frequent
body contact, and several other high-
intensity actions to overcome opponents. Consequently,
the aerobic system is highly taxed as indicated by the aver-
age (HRmean) and peak heart rate (HRmax) values (82 and
93% HRmax, respectively). Moreover, the time between
each change of activity (6 seconds) and the number of
intense actions and moments also suggest a high anaerobic
energy turnover in certain periods of the match (18). In
fact, anaerobic power seems to discriminate between elite
male handball teams with different ranking (17). Addition-
ally, although players have time to recover from intense
periods throughout the match, a decline in exercise inten-
sity has been observed in the second half of the match,
suggesting that handball players probably experience
fatigue during the match (18). It is well established that
in other team sports such as football, performance is
impaired toward the end of the game due to fatigue (2).
In a previous handball study (22), a 5.2% decrease in max-
imal jump height and a deteriorated neuromuscular func-
tion was found after a field protocol that intended to mimic
a handball match. However, the impact of the handball

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match on other physical capacities of importance for
performance, such as the ability to sustain a high average
intensity during a long period of time or to perform short-
duration high-intensity exercise and possible alterations in
these performance indices after certain intense periods of
the match remains unknown. Actually, whether perfor-
mance is reduced not only at the end of the game (persis-
tent or permanent fatigue) but also temporarily during
critical periods of the handball game (temporary fatigue)
(15) is yet to be fully elucidated. Moreover, no information
is available regarding the impact of real matches on neuro-
muscular performance in elite male handball players, and
thus, it is unclear whether neuromuscular fatigue occurs
since handball’s rules allow unlimited substitutions. Cur-
rently, scientific research concerning elite team handball’s
working demands is scarce. Therefore, the purpose of the
study was to examine the activity profile and physiological
demands of elite male handball match-play and to investi-
gate the degree and type of fatigue development after
intense exercise periods and toward the end of the match.
Our research questions are as follows: (a) does elite handball
match impacts on physical and physiological indices of the
players? and (b) is neuromuscular fatigue shown both tempo-
rarily and at the end of the handball match? We hypothesized
that team handball players show decrements in the physical
capacities tested at selected time points. The detailed charac-
terization of the impact of the match on players’ physical
performance will allow the development of specific training
strategies aiming to maximize performance and to optimize
the physical and the physiological rationale for the need for
substitutions in various stages of mach-play.
METHODS
Experimental Approach to the Problem
To analyze the physical and physiological impact of the
handball game, time-motion analyses and heart rate (HR)
recordings were performed during 10 competitive matches for
40 players of 5 teams in the top professional Portuguese
handball competition, which were regularly involved in
European championships for clubs. Additionally, aiming to
investigate the match-induced decrements in physical perfor-
mance temporarily and at the end of the match, jump and
sprint testing and Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance level 2 test
(YYIE2) (1) were performed on 18 players before a training
session (baseline conditions) and after 2 competitive matches
(Figure 1A). Furthermore, 12 of these players were tested
during a friendly match, since blood samples collecting and
sprint and jump testing after intense exercise periods within
the first and second half (Figure 1A), that is, match periods,
which included fast running, sprinting, or sideways high-
intensity movement (adapted from reference 12), could not
be performed during competitive matches. Because fluid loss
and fluid intake are difficult to evaluate during competitive
matches, these variables were assessed during a subsample
of 5 competitive matches and also during the friendly match.
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Subjects
Forty outfield players (13 backcourt players, 13 wings, and 14
pivots) participated in this study, which was approved by the
Institutional Review Board of the Faculty of Sport of the
University of Porto (project no. 01/2004) and by the club
officials, and followed the Declaration of Helsinki of the World
Medical Association for research with humans. Participants
were informed of the aims of the research project and made
aware of the procedures, including any risks, discomforts, and
benefits before giving written informed consent. The mean
age, height, weight, and body fat of the players were 26 6 3
(range, 20–37) years, 187.4 6 8.0 (175.3–202.0) cm, 87.5 6 7.9
(70.7–105.7) kg, and 9.6 6 2.8 (6.0–15.0) % fat mass (Tanita
Inner Scan digital BC532). At baseline conditions, the YYIE2
performance was 1466 6 500 (880–2840) m. Participants had
at least 5 years of experience in the top Portuguese handball
competition. At the time of the evaluations, the players were in
the middle of the competitive period, performing 6/7 training
sessions per week, 4/5 comprised technical-tactical and phys-
ical fitness training exercises and 2/3 consisted of strength
training.
Procedures
Physical Testing. Heart rate after 400 m of YYIE2 was higher
after the game compared with before the game (180 6 8 vs.
175 6 7 b$min21) (Table 2). There was a significant (p ,
0.01) decrease in endurance, jump, and sprint performances
after the match. Sprint performance also declined signifi-
cantly during the second half (p , 0.01) (Table 2).
There was a positive association between individual
playing time in the second half of matches and the
decrement in the YYIE2 performance (R = 0.71; p = 0.04).
Jump Testing. The players performed the jump test in the
rested state and within 1 minute after competitive match-
play and after an intense period of the first and second half of
the friendly match. Two countermovement jumps (CMJ)
were performed with arm swing on a Bosco’s jumping mat
(Ergojump Globus, Treviso, Italy). Free CMJ with extension
of both upper limbs were chosen to simulate as closely as
possible the spontaneous jumping movement performed in
team handball matches (11). The jump height was calculated
from the flight time (5). One set of 2 maximal jumps was
completed, interspersed with approximately 10–15 seconds
of rest between jumps and at least 90 seconds of rest
between the jump and sprint test. The maximal jump height
was used for further analysis.
Sprint Testing. Sprint testing was performed in the rested state
and after competitive match-play and after an intense period
of the first and second half of the friendly match. The test
consisted of five 20-m sprints, separated by 15-second period
of active recovery (adapted from reference 12) aiming to eval-
uate 20-m sprint performance (determined by the fasted time
in the 5 sprints) and repeated sprint ability (determined by the
average time in the 5 sprints). The sprint times were recorded
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 Fatigue During Team Handball Matches

Figure 1. Schematic description of the experimental setup. Time points for the evaluation of selected physiological and physical parameters (panel A) (N = 18)
before the 2 training sessions (baseline conditions), during the friendly match and after the 2 competitive matches and for blood sampling during the friendly
match (N = 18) (panel B). CMJ = countermovement jump; FFA = free fatty acids; HR = heart rate; HRmax = maximal heart rate; TM = time-motion analysis;
YYIE2 = Yo-Yo intermittent endurance level 2 test.

by telemetric photoelectric cells with a precision of 0.01 sec-
onds (Brower Timing System, IRD-T175, Utah, USA).
Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Level 2 Test Testing. The YYIE2
was performed in the rested state and within 5-minute after
competitive match-play within at least 90 seconds after the
sprint test. Three testing locations were set up to ensure this
time frame. Heart rate was monitored during the test to
determine HRmean, HRmax, and submaximal HR after 400 m
(HRsubmax). Submaximal HR, presented as a percentage of
HRmax, is a measure of the relative aerobic loading after
a fixed intermittent exercise task and has been shown to
provide information about team sport-specific fitness (6).
All tests were completed on an indoor team handball playing
court. Baseline testing occurred within 1 week before the
friendly match and 1 week later the 2 competitive matches
were performed (Figure 1A).
Players were advised to maintain their normal nutritional
habits, and coaches were asked to continue the usual training
schedule. All evaluations took place at the same time of the day.
Time-Motion Analysis
Forty players were filmed (Sony DCR-HC20E PAL, lens—
Sony VCL0625S VCL-0625S 25 mm 0.63 Wide Angle Lens
Converter, Moscavide, Portugal) for the duration of all 10
competitive matches to establish game motion pattern ac-
cording to the methods previously described by Póvoas et al.
(18). For each locomotor category, the percentage of total
time, duration, distance, and frequency were determined.
the
The data are presented for the entire match, each half and
5-minute periods. Average time between each activity and
intensity change (i.e., each change of locomotor and inten-
sity [high and low] category, respectively) was determined.
The time intervals between (a) the maximal intensity activ-
ities (i.e., sprints and sideways high-intensity movement) and
between (b) the high-intensity activities were analyzed (for
definitions, see reference 18).
Heart Rate Analysis
Seventy-three HR recordings of 40 outfield players (30
recordings of wings, 27 of backcourt players, and 16 pivots)
were registered in 5-second intervals using Polar Team
System (Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland) during the 10
competitive matches. Individual maximal HR was previously
determined using the YYIE2. Team handball rules allow
unlimited substitutions of players throughout the match.
Therefore, it is unusual that 1 athlete plays the entire match
time (20). Also, a 1-minute time-out period is allowed for
each team, in each half. Several other match contingencies
involve the interruption of the match time (e.g., players’
injuries and suspensions). Thus, HR during the match
was analyzed (a) as total HR (i.e., HR during total match
time) aiming to globally characterize cardiovascular de-
mands imposed by the handball match and (b) as effective
HR (i.e., HR during effective match time) aiming to
describe match demands only during the time in which
the player is on the playing court. In the first case,
2-minute suspensions and the half-time break were
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excluded from total match time. Nevertheless, in both
cases, the time-outs were considered. For this purpose,
the matches were filmed. Procedures regarding image col-
lection were described above, although in this case, the
players were filmed during the entire match time. The
matches were held under neutral temperature (17–228 C)
and humidity conditions (50–70%) (Extech Digital
Hygrometer 445715; Grainger, New York, NY, USA).
Blood Analysis
Capillary blood samples (30 ml) were collected from the
right earlobe at rest and at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 minutes
and at the end of the first and the second half from 2 differ-
ent players at each time point within each half (Figure 1B).
Blood lactate was measured using a portable electroenzy-
matic lactate device analyzer (Lactate ProTM, Quesnel,
Canada). Venous blood samples (5 ml) were collected from
the antecubital arm vein into EDTA (EDTA-K3, Iberlab, ref.
GV0414)-containing tubes at rest and immediately after the
end of each half. Blood was immediately centrifuged for
10 minutes at 3000 rpm to obtain plasma. Plasma glucose
concentrations were immediately determined by colorimet-
ric method using a commercial kit (ABX A11A01668; ABX
Diagnostics, Montpellier, France). The remaining plasma
was then separated into aliquots and rapidly frozen at
2808 C for later biochemical analysis of plasma free fatty
acids (FFA), glycerol, and uric acid.
Plasma uric acid concentrations were determined through
enzymatic colorimetric method at 550 nm, using a commercial
kit (Horiba ABX A11A01670, ABX Diagnostics). Plasma FFA
concentrations were determined by enzymatic colorimetry
using a commercial kit (Wako Chemicals GmbH, Neuss,
Germany). Plasma glycerol concentrations were determined
by enzymatic colorimetry (Instruchemie, Delfzijl, the Nether-
lands). All parameters were assayed in duplicate, and the
mean obtained value was used for further analysis.
Fluid Loss and Intake
To determine fluid loss during the match, the players were
weighted wearing dry shorts, immediately before and after
the matches using a digital balance (Tanita Inner Scan digital
BC532 scale, Amsterdam, the Netherlands). The players
were allowed to drink water ad libitum during the matches,
and water intake was recorded.
Measurement Reliability
Data reliability was assessed using a test-retest procedure
after 7 days, with a random subsample of 10 subjects. The
intraclass correlation coefficients (R) of all variables were
high. Anthropometric measurements, 0.90 # R # 0.99;
physical testing variables, 0.80 # R # 0.92, and between
0.90 # R # 0.95 for physiological parameters.
Statistical Analyses
Results were expressed as either mean (SDs) or propor-
tions. None of these quantitative physical and physiological
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parameters showed significant deviations from a normal
distribution (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test). Changes in neuro-
muscular parameters at different time points during the
handball match and differences in activity profile and HR
between each 5-minute period were examined by repeated
measures analysis of variance. The Bonferroni test for mul-
tiple comparisons was used. Effect size was calculated using
partial eta-squared (h2p ) and interpreted as small ($0.01),
medium ($0.06), or large ($0.14) (8). Differences between
HR and time-motion variables during the 2 halves and
performance on the YYIE2 and HR values during the test
at baseline conditions and after the match were assessed by
Student’s paired t-test. For each of the blood metabolites and
neuromuscular parameters, change scores were calculated as
the difference between baseline during and after the match
values; the difference was then divided by the initial value to
estimate percentage or relative change (%D). Differences
between high- and low-intensity activities, total and effective
HR and between blood lactate concentrations, HR and
activity profile of competitive and friendly matches were
determined by Student’s unpaired t-test. A significance level
of 0.05 was chosen. Statistical Package for the Social Scien-
ces (version 20.0; SPSS Inc., IBM, Armonk, New York, USA)
was used for all analyses.
RESULTS
Time-Motion Analysis
The total distance covered was 4.51 6 0.63 km during the
matches lasting 75 6 4 minutes, and a total of 3.8 6 1.4% of
the playing time was spent with high-intensity running cor-
responding to a distance of 810 6 356 m (17.9 6 7.5% of the
total distance covered). Standing and walking accounted for
76 6 5% of the match time.
The total time spent in high-intensity movements during
the match decreased from the first to the second half (4.4 6
2.0 to 3.1 6 1.7%; p # 0.05). Also, the frequency of high
demanding game actions decreased (p # 0.05) from the first
to the second half, including the number of stops (18 6 7 to
15 6 5), changes of movement direction (19 6 6 to 14 6 7),
and one-on-one situations (13 6 9 to 10 6 8). The number
of time-outs (5 6 1 vs. 7 6 2; p , 0.01) and time between
activity changes (5.1 6 1.3 vs. 5.6 6 0.8; p , 0.01) increased.
Time between high-intensity activities was ,30 seconds and
.90 seconds for 35 and 32% of the observed high-intensity
bouts, respectively. Analyzed data on each 5-minute period
of the match are presented in Figure 2.
Heart Rate Analysis
Effective mean HR during the match was 159 6 17 b$min21
(83 6 8% HRmax), whereas total mean HR was 142 6 29
b$min21 (74 6 17% HRmax) (Figure 3). Peak HR during the
match was 187 6 9 b$min21 corresponding to 96 6 4%
HRmax. Heart rate was above 80% HRmax for 54 6 15% of
the effective match time and below 60% HRmax for only 6 6
5%. Effective mean HR (164 6 18 to 155 6 19 b$min21) and
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 Fatigue During Team Handball Matches

Figure 2. Total distance covered (A) and distance covered with high-intensity running (B) in each 5-minute period of the total competitive matches analyzed for
the 30 players (N = 30) during the first and second half. Values are mean 6 SD. *p # 0.05 vs. first 5-minute period of the matches.

Figure 3. Effective mean and peak heart rate during the total competitive matches analyzed for the 30 players (N = 30) during the first and second half. Values
are mean 6 SD; *p # 0.05 vs. first 5-minute period of the matches.

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 TABLE 1. Blood lactate and plasma glucose, free fatty acids, glycerol, and uric acid concentrations at baseline conditions, during and after the friendly match.*

Biochemical
parameters Baseline (N = 12) First half (N = 12) %D Second half (N = 12) %D h2p
Blood lactate 1.1 6 0.1 (0.9–1.4) 4.2 6 2.3† (1.6–8.6) 3.1 6 1.8† (1.3–8.4) 0.64
(mM)
Glucose (mM) 5.9 6 0.8 (4.8–7.4) 7.5 6 1.1† (6.2–9.7) 30 6 23† (0–82) 6.8 6 0.9† (5.2–8.2) 18 6 17† (221–40) 0.48
Free fatty 194 6 44 (100–300) 529 6 213† (300–900) 169 6 101† (50–350) 871 6 414†z (400–1600) 343 6 210† (100–700) 0.66
acids (mM)
Glycerol (mM) 28 6 12 (10–50) 112 6 34† (70–190) 327 6 207† (75–900) 179 6 66†z (120–290) 567 6 352† (200–1600) 0.85
Uric acid (mM) 0.30 6 0.06 (0.20–0.40) 0.40 6 0.11† (0.28–0.63) 40 6 48† (218–155) 0.40 6 0.08† (0.24–0.53) 38 6 31† (28–90) 0.45

*Blood lactate data were collected during the first and second half, whereas values concerning the remaining parameters refer to measures taken at the end of both halves. Data
are presented as mean 6 SD (range).
†p # 0.05 first or second half vs. prematch values.
zp # 0.05 s vs. first half.

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

the
TABLE 2. Yo-Yo intermittent endurance level 2 test, countermovement jump, 20-m sprint ability, repeated sprint ability test values before the training sessions,
i.e., baseline conditions (N = 18 players), during the friendly match (N = 12 players) and after the competitive matches (N = 18 players).*†
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Field tests Before First half %D Second half %D After %D h2p

YYIE2 performance (m) 1686 6 580 1134 6 472z 33.4 6 8.7%z 0.73
CMJ (cm) 52.7 6 4.9 52.5 6 5.3 20.2 6 4.8 51.4 6 3.8 2.3 6 3.9 48.7 6 4.8z 7.4 6 6.5%z 0.03
20-m sprint ability (s) 3.00 6 0.12 3.04 6 0.09 20.1 6 2.6 3.09 6 0.12z 23.9 6 4.9%z 3.04 6 0.11z 21.6 6 2.6%z 0.33
Repeated sprint ability (s) 3.17 6 0.09 3.14 6 0.08 2.5 6 3.6 3.22 6 0.12 0.3 6 3.4 3.15 6 0.10 0.9 6 3.8 0.22

*YYIE2 = Yo-Yo intermittent endurance level 2 test; CMJ = countermovement jump.

†Data are presented as mean 6 SD.
zp # 0.05 first or second half vs. prematch values.

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2645

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 Fatigue During Team Handball Matches
total mean HR (142 6 35 to 133 6 33 b$min21) were
lowered (p , 0.01) from the first to the second half, respec-
tively. Also, the fraction of effective playing time with HRs
above 80% HRmax decreased from the first to the second half
(62 6 21 to 41 6 17%, respectively; p # 0.05).
Intensity of the Matches
No significant differences were observed in the total distance
covered (4.74 6 0.62 vs. 4.51 6 0.63 km; p = 0.09), percentage
of high-intensity activity performed (3.9 6 1.7 vs. 3.8 6 1.4%;
p = 0.32), effective mean HR (85 6 4 vs. 83 6 8% HRmax; p =
0.16), or HRpeak (97 6 3 vs. 96 6 4% HRmax; p = 0.23)
between the friendly match and the competitive matches.
Blood Analysis
Average blood lactate during the friendly match was 3.6 6
2.1 (1.3–8.6) mM (Table 1), and peak values were 8.0 6 1.4
(range, 6.7–8.6) mM.
Fluid Loss and Intake
The average body mass loss during the matches was 0.8 6 0.4
(0.0–1.6) kg corresponding to 0.9 6 0.5 (0.0–1.6) % of the
body mass and the fluid intake was 1.3 6 0.3 (0.7–1.6) L.
Thus, the average fluid loss during the matches was 2.1 6
0.5 (1.5–2.9) L, corresponding to 2.3 6 0.4 (1.9–3.2) % of
the body mass. There was no significant association between
effective HRmean or HRpeak and fluid lost during the analyzed
matches (R = 0.21; p = 0.52; R = 0.16; p = 0.69, respectively).
DISCUSSION
This study provides, for the first time, combined information
on the activity profile, physiological demands and perfor-
mance decrements during elite male handball matches. The
results show that the HRs were high during a majority of the
playing time and that the amount of high-intensity running
and the number of specific intense actions decreased from the
first to the second half. Blood lactate was elevated 3- to 4-fold
during the match compared with baseline, with no difference
between halves, whereas plasma FFA and glycerol increased
throughout the game. Altogether, these results show that elite
handball match impacts on physical and physiological indices
of the players. Sprint performance was lowered after an
intense period of the second half and YYIE2, jump and sprint
performance was deteriorated after the match, which provides
evidence that fatigue occurs both temporarily during the
second half and toward the end of match-play for elite male
handball players. As mentioned above and as will be
highlighted in the Practical Applications section, the present
results reinforce the need of coaches for designing high-
intensity, short-duration, and short-time recovery exercises
such as repeated sprints, jumps, pulling/drift actions, and
contacts during both conditioning and mixed (tactical and
physical-based) training sessions, regardless of the fact that
handball rules allow unlimited number of substitutions.
The mean HR during the effective playing time was high
both for the investigated competitive games and for the
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friendly game (83 and 85% HRmax) with 54 and 83% of the
effective playing time with HRs above 80% HRmax. The peak
HRs reached during the competitive games and the friendly
game approached maximal values (96% HRmax). The loco-
motor analyses revealed that about two-thirds of the overall
game time was spent standing and jogging. However, the
results show that multiple intense running bouts (401 and
520) and numerous specific intense actions (115 and 123) are
performed during competitive and friendly handball match-
play. A friendly match was used since blood samples collec-
tion and neuromuscular performance evaluation could not
be performed during competitive matches, so it should be
considered to what extent it represents the intensity of offi-
cial matches. However, there were no significant differences
between HR values and activity profile of the friendly
and the official matches, and altogether the levels of
high-intensity activity and HR confirmed the relative high
intensity of the friendly match. Also, there were no signifi-
cative differences between the time spent on high-intensity
running in the 5-minute periods before blood sampling and
physical performance evaluation in the friendly game and in
the most intense 5-minute periods of the competitive games
(4.4 6 4.6 vs. 5.7 6 3.8%; p = 0.19).
Our results showed a decrease in the distance covered
with high-intensity running from the first to the second half
as well a reduction in the number of specific intense actions
such as stops, changes of movement direction, and one-on-
one situations. This study also showed that the YYIE2,
sprint, and jump performance decreased after the game,
which provides direct evidence of fatigue. The intermittent
high-intensity exercise performance as evaluated by YYIE2
was lowered by as much as 33%. To the best of our
knowledge, this test has not previously been used to evaluate
the fatigue development during elite handball, but studies on
elite female football players and high-level junior male
football players have shown decreases in YYIE2 perfor-
mance of 40–60% after match-play (14,19). This study also
showed a 1.6% decline in 20-m sprint performance after the
game, but no change in repeated sprint ability contrasting
with elite male footballers in which single and repeated
sprint performance decreased 2–7% after friendly, competi-
tive matches and simulated football match-play (4,14,15).
However, the observed decrease in jump performance was
as high as 7.4% after match-play, which is similar to values
reported for elite handball matches with female (6.7%) (20)
and male players (5.2%) (22). Also, the number of sprints is
lower, whereas the number of jumps and other intense ac-
tions requiring a high muscle tension are high in team hand-
ball. Local muscle fatigue after a simulated handball match
was suggested by Thorlund et al. (22), reporting a 11%
reduction in maximal voluntary contraction force of the
knee-extensors in elite male players. Performance decre-
ments toward the end of elite football matches have been
suggested to be related to glycogen depletion in a large frac-
tion of the individual muscle fibers (12). However, it is yet to

be examined whether the glycogen utilization during
a 60-minute team handball match is sufficiently high to
cause glycogen depletion of individual muscle fibers.
Although the average blood lactate values were lower than
what has been reported for elite male footballers (3.2 vs.
4.8 mM) (2,3,12), the individual peak values ranged from 7–
9 mM indicating periods with high glycogen utilization.
Moreover, we observed a 5-fold increase in plasma FFA
and a 6-fold increase in plasma glycerol during the game,
suggesting a strong activation of the lipid metabolism.
Glucose levels remained high and stable during the game,
rejecting the possibility of hypoglycemia (10) and suggesting
that increased glucose uptake during the game is compen-
sated by glucose release from the liver. Also, dehydration and
hyperthermia have been suggested to contribute to fatigue
development toward the end of the game (2). Nonetheless,
the analyzed matches were performed in thermoneutral con-
ditions, and the average body mass loss was less than 1 L,
suggesting a minor impact on HR and cardiovascular strain
(9). Also, no relationship was observed between HRpeak and
HRmean and fluid loss. However, the HRsubmax during the
YYIE2 was more than 5 b$min21 higher after than before
the game, suggesting a slightly lowered stroke volume due to
the fluid loss during the game and/or a lower economy of
intermittent running after the game. This value is lower than
the test-retest CV reported for HRsubmax during this test (7).
In this study, it was also investigated whether fatigue
occur after intense exercise periods in the first and second
half. The sprint performance was lower after an intense
exercise period in the second half compared with resting
condition. However, no changes were observed in jump
performance or repeated sprint ability after intense periods
of the first and second half. As mentioned, the peak blood
lactate of 7–9 mM indicates periods with very high anaero-
bic energy turnover. The time-motion analyses showed that
about one-third of the time between intense runs lasted less
than 30 seconds but also that another one-third of the
intense runs were performed more than 90 seconds after
the last high-intensity activity. Together, the findings may
explain why the running pattern in team handball results
in temporary fatigue, as performance changes may occur
after very intense exercise and as the long recovery periods
allow for recovery. The causes of temporary fatigue in team
sports are under debate but may relate to disturbances in
muscle ion homeostasis, particularly potassium (K+) and cal-
cium ions. Recent studies have indicated large increases in
muscle interstitial K+ during progressive intermittent exer-
cise and football match-play (4,12,16), as indicated by in-
creases in plasma K+ concentrations. Furthermore, K+
handling in the muscle cell has been shown to be deterio-
rated after a football game (13). However, no such measure-
ments were performed in this study, and further studies are
required to elucidate the degree of and mechanisms behind
temporary fatigue in elite handball. One limitation of this
study is that the analysis did not take into account the play-
Copyright © National Strength and Conditioning Association Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
the TM
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research | www.nsca.com
ing position as it has been showed that HR and locomotor
profile during games show considerable variation among
players (18), suggesting that position-related differences
might contribute to this variation. Nevertheless, no signifi-
cant differences were observed between the playing posi-
tions in the biochemical response and physical
performance alterations during and after the match. Thus,
further studies comprising a higher sample size should be
performed.
In conclusion, the aerobic demands were high during most
of the handball game interspersed with periods of high lactate
production and therefore, with short but high anaerobic
requirements. Less high-intensity running and specific intense
actions were performed in the second half of the game, and
jumping ability, sprinting speed, and progressive intermittent
exercise performance were lowered immediately after the
game. Moreover, sprint performance was observed to be
lowered after an intense period in the second half. Together,
the present results indicate that elite handball matches are
physically demanding and that the players experience tem-
porary and permanent fatigue during match-play.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
This study identifies the physical demands and the fatigue
development profile in elite team handball. These findings
enable physical trainers and coaches to plan and properly
design game-specific training exercises and strengthen the
physiological rationale for the need for substitutions in
various stages of match-play. From a practical point of view,
the present results suggest that, regardless of the fact that the
handball rules permit unlimited number of substitutions at
any given time during the match, physical coaches should
consider specific physical conditioning or combined
(technique-based, tactical, or mixed) training exercises com-
prising repeated sprints, jumps, pulling/drift actions, and
contacts with high-intensity, short-duration, and short-time
recovery. These exercises target improvements in handball-
specific physical fitness, delaying neuromuscular fatigue both
temporarily after certain high-intensity periods of the game
and toward the end of the game. The design of specific
weight-bearing resistance training exercises or small-sided
games by physical coaches should also consider the referred
intensity, duration, and recovery time relationship. Addition-
ally, given the decrement of performance in the second half
of matches, substitutions can be used as an effective tool to
enhance recovery and thus minimizing neuromuscular
fatigue. Friendly matches should be used to test the use of
frequent substitutions without affecting the team tactics.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thankfully acknowledge to all the elite handball
players and coaches who participated on this study. They are
also grateful to Dr. Franklim Marques from the Clinical
Analysis Service in the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of
Porto, for the kind assistance in the biochemical assays. They
VOLUME 28 | NUMBER 9 | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 2647
 Fatigue During Team Handball Matches
also thank Dr. Sarah R. Jackman for editing the article. The
authors are supported by Grants from the Portuguese
Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/BD/38148/
2007, SFRH/BPD/4225/2007, and SFRH/BPD/66935/
2009). The results of this study do not reflect any endorsement
by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
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