The effects of forearm resistance band training on the throwing velocity of male handball players

Introduction: Handball is a dynamic sport played in numerous countries. One of the important factors in scoring goals is throwing velocity, but training knowledge is based mostly on practical experience given the limited scientific studies devoted to this game. To fill this void, the current research investigated the influence of resistance band training for forearms on the throwing velocity of university handball players. Materials and methods: This study recruited 28 male university handball athletes with an average age of 20.7±0.8 years, a stature of 172.2±0.1, a body mass of 68.5 (±4.6), and a VO2 max of 48.2 (±3.4). Of these participants, 14 were randomly assigned to an experimental group (subjected to resistance band training), and the remaining athletes served as controls. Both groups underwent pre-and post-tests, which covered throwing velocity (7 m jump shot test), hand grip, and ball accuracy tests. For eight weeks, both groups attended regular handball training sessions (three per week), but the experimental group also participated in a program specifically aimed at strengthening the forearm muscle region. The program involved two resistance band exercises after the general warm-up in each regular session. Results: Pre- and post-tests were carried out to analyze each player's throwing velocity and assess the effects of the strength training program. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in throwing velocity were found between the experimental group, who presented an improvement of 8%, and the control group, who showed no improvement. Conclusion: The results suggest that an increase in the strength of the forearm muscle can contribute to an increase in throwing velocity and an enhancement in the kinetic chain that underlies throwing in handball.