A prática de um programa preventivo melhora a capacidade funcional de membros inferiores em atletas de handebol feminino

Abstract

To analyze the effects of an injury prevention program over the functional capacity of lower limbs in female handball players. This experimental study includes a convenience sample of 17 athletes aged 12 to 16 years, members of an amateur handball team. Athletes were randomly divided into two groups, the intervention group (IG), composed by the athletes whose practiced the prevention program associated to the regular handball training (n=9), and the control group (CG) whose young only practiced the team sport training (n=8). It was applied an initial questionnaire, measured anthropometric data and the functional capacity was evaluated though Single Leg Hop Test, Timed Hop Test and Side Hop Test. Training program was about 20 minutes of warm up, strength, agility, plyometric and balance exercises, before the regular sport training, twice a week, along eight weeks, totalizing 16 sessions. Results: IG showed significative improvement pos-intervention in all tests (p<0,05), of both lower limbs, unlike CG which results were limited. Eight weeks of an injury prevention program training improved significantly the functional capacity of young female handball players, showing that this kind of intervention is capable to modify positively these athletes’ lower limbs injury risk factors, in addition to improving their playing performance.