Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran.
2
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
10.22059/sshr.2024.373788.1129
Abstract
Purpose
COVID-19 transmission in team sports is common, but it's uncertain if face masks impact handball players' performance. This study investigated the effects of wearing surgical face masks during handball exercise for 4 weeks on athletic performance.
Methods
Thirty-four adolescent handball female players and 17 trained females as the control group were selected in this study. Players were divided into two groups: the mask group (n = 17; age 12.63 ± 0.67 years, BMI 20.61 ± 1.19 kg/m2) and the unmasked group (n = 17; age 13.45 ± 1.03 years, BMI 21.08 ± 1.46 kg/m2), who underwent 4-week training with and without face masks, respectively. Performance tests were conducted before and after the training program, which include: countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), 10m, 20m, and 30m sprint, medicine ball throw, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-YoIRT1).
Results
After four weeks, both the mask and unmasked groups showed significant improvements in CMJ, SJ, 10m, 20m, and 30m sprint, medicine ball throw, and Yo-YoIRT1 (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion: This study concludes that adolescent handball players can safely use face masks during physical activity without experiencing negative effects on their athletic performance.
Keywords
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