ANALYSIS OF INJURIES, OVERTRAINING AND DEHYDRATION IN THE ELITE FEMALE ATHLETE. Garcia, R.A. & Bebetsos, G.S

1 Garcia, R., Bebetsos, G.S.

European Handball Federation

Web Periodical Online Expert Corner Published online at: http://activities.eurohandball.com/web-periodicals

ANALYSIS OF INJURIES, OVERTRAINING AND DEHYDRATION IN THE ELITE

FEMALE BEACH HANDBALL ATHLETE: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Robelyn A. Garcia ASU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Senior University and Arizona State University

George S. Bebetsos Anatolia College, Physical Education Department

The online version of this article can be retrieved at:

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Beach handball practical applications of identifying symptoms for overtraining syndrome

The fast-paced high-scoring game of Beach Handball has erupted and is gaining

popularity across the world (Piankova, 2013, Bebetsos, et. al., 2012). “The International

Handball Federation’s (IHF) Development Plan has helped the sport to progress from a basic

level to highly competitive competitions, and, ultimately, to one of its most successful activities,

thus allowing effective product integration and developing a compelling lifestyle” (Bebetsos, et.

al., 2012). The development of a stronger and faster style of play in Beach Handball has

contributed to a more exciting and dynamic sport. The pressure on world-class athletes to

perform at high levels has increased as the sport of Beach Handball has gained popularity.

When athletes push themselves or are pushed too hard without sufficient recovery, the result

often leads to injury, dehydration and overtraining syndrome (Corbin, et.al, 2013).

Analysis of injuries, overtraining and dehydration in elite female athletes

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Fatigue during Beach Handball training is normal when the athlete participates in a hard

workout. Overtraining syndrome appears when the athlete does not have adequate rest following

this type of excessive overloading exercise. The pressure on many athletes to perform at a high

level has increased as sports (in particular youth) programs have flourished. The number of

acute and chronic injuries among young competitive athletes has also increased (Vetter, et. al.,

2010; Rearick, et. al, 2013).

Beach handball overtraining syndrome symptoms

Understanding overtraining syndrome is of import for coaches in the evaluation and

management of their athletes. The skill of preventing, identifying, and treating symptoms of

overtraining is imperative in the world of sports. The symptoms that Beach Handball coaches

and players need to look for include ongoing abnormal fatigue, irritability, drastic mood

changes, a change in sleeping patterns, evidence of heaviness of the arms or legs, loss of

appetite, a lack of interest in training, anxiety, a decrease in performance, poor or irregular heart

rate and a high resting heart rate coupled with a maladapted response to daily training

(Urhausen, et. al., 2002, Black Johnson, et. al. 1992). If three or more of these signs are present

methods of preventing further symptoms of overtraining syndrome need to be considered and

incorporated (Corbin, et. al., 2013).

Rise of injury following intermission

A special characteristic of beach handball is the environment in which the games take

place: sand, high temperatures and many matches during the same day. The cause of injuries in

each sport and its versions can differ between different subgroups of the athletes’ population

(Manavis, et. al., 2008). Of particular note is the rise of injury during the second period of the

match immediately following the five-minute intermission (IHF, 2014). Holdhaus (2011)

revealed that 66% of all of injuries during the Women's Euro 2010 Championships occurred

during the second half of competition. This rise in injury can be attributed to a combination of

fatigue due to overtraining or improper training, poor beach handball skills, cold muscles and

dehydration. If Beach Handball “athletes do not consume enough fluid to maintain euhydration

then a detriment in performance is almost certain” (Karras, et. al., 2007).



Beach Handball players may lose one liter of fluid during training and games. This

equates to 2% of body mass for the female Beach Handballer (Karras, et. al., 2007). It has been

empirically established over decades of sport science research that even small fluid deficits

challenge the cardiovascular system and drastically reduce performance (Graig, et. al., 1966;

Karras, et. al., 2007). Further, the blood lactate concentration is affected by dehydration,

resulting in the faster appearance of athlete’s fatigue (Kaya, et. al., 2013).

Coaching and training adjustments

Coaches need to make immediate adjustments addressing the multiple body systems

causing negative changes in performance. Although overtraining syndrome remains a clinical

diagnosis, coaches need to be educated on the prevention, warning signs, and treatment of

overtraining to protect the safety of their athletes. The training load should be altered to include

tapering and breaks for sufficient recovery (Corbin, et.al, 2013). Other successful prevention

and treatment options include increasing hydration, resetting athletic performance goals, diet

modification and educating athletes on the risks for injury and dehydration (Piankova, 2013). It

is recommended that female Beach Handballers consume at least 2% of their body mass in

fluids during training and competitions to stay properly hydrated (Karras, et. al., 2007). The skill

of preventing, identifying, and treating symptoms of dehydration, injury, and overtraining in

Beach Handballers is imperative as Beach Handball is posed to become one of the most popular

sports in the U.S.A.



References

Bebetsos, G.S., et .al. (2012), Beach Handball from A to Z. Basel: IHF publications. Retrieved at

www.handball.no/local_showfile.asp?field=35377

Black Johnson, M. & Thiese, S.M. (1992). A review of overtraining syndrome - Recognizing

the signs and symptoms, Journal Of Athletic Training, 27(4): 352–354.

Corbin, C., Welk, G., & Welk, K. (2013). Concepts of physical fitness (17th edition). New

York: McGRaw Hill Publishing.

Graig, F.N., & Cummings, E.G. (1966). Dehydration and muscular work. Journal Of Applied

Physiology, 21(2): 670-674.

Holdhaus, H. (2011). Summary of the injury study conducted at the Women’s EHF Euro in

Norway and Denmark. European Handball Federation publications. Retrieved at

www.eurohandball.com/article/013811.

International Handball Federation (IHF). (2014), Beach Handball rules of the game. Basel: IHF

publishing.

Karras, D., Chryssanthopoulos, C. & Diafas, V. (2007). Body fluid loss during four consecutive

beach handball matches in high humidity and environmental temperatures. Serbian

Journal of Sport Sciences, 1(1-4): 15-20.

Kaya, I., Kalkavan, A., Senturk, A., Harmanci, H., Karavelioglu, B., Yuksel, O., Savasli, M.

(2013). Analysis of blood lactate and heart rate of indoor sports athletes as a response to

various loads. Turkish Journal of Sports and Exercise, 15(3): 86-89.

Manavis, K., Hatzimanouil, D., Stefas, E. & Bebetsos, G. (2008). Injuries in Beach Handball.

European Handball Federation publications. Retrieved at http://home.eurohandball.com

Piankova, D. (2013). Beach handball spreading across the United States. The Sports Digest:

March, 13th, 2013. The United States Sports Academy, Daphne, AL. Retrieved at

http://thesportdigest.com/2013/03/beach-handball-spreading-across-the-united-states

Rearick, M., Creasy, J. & Buriak J. (2013). Avoid overtraining in young athletes. Journal of

Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 82:5: 25-36.

Urhausen, A., & Kindermann, J. (2002). Diagnosis of overtraining: What tools do we have?

Sports Medicine. 32(2): 95-102.

Vetter, R. E., & Symonds, M. L. (2010). Correlations between injury, training intensity, and

physical and mental exhaustion among college athletes. Journal of Strength and

Conditioning Research, 24(3), 587-96.


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The original online version of this article can be found at: http://drrobelyngarcia.hubpages.com/hub/BeachHandball

● Sports and Recreation ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Analysis of Injuries, Overtraining and

Dehydration in the Elite Female Athlete by

Dr. Robelyn A. Garcia ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by Dr.Robelyn Garcia Beach Handball Practical Applications of Identifying Symptoms for Overtraining Syndrome

2nd revision published in EHF Periodical: Spring 2014.

The fast-paced high-scoring game of Beach Handball has erupted and is gaining

popularity across the world (5). The development of a stronger and faster style of play in

Beach Handball has contributed to a more exciting and dynamic sport. The pressure on

world-class athletes to perform at high levels has increased as the sport of Beach

Handball has gained popularity. When athletes push themselves or are pushed too hard

without sufficient recovery, the result often leads to injury, dehydration and

Overtraining Syndrome (1). Fatigue during Beach Handball training is normal when the

athlete participates in a hard workout. Overtraining Syndrome appears when the athlete

does not have adequate rest following this type of excessive overloading exercise.


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Elite Women's Beach Handballers

Source: World Beach Handball Federation

Beach Handball Overtraining Syndrome Symptoms

The symptoms that Beach Handball coaches and players need to look for include

ongoing abnormal fatigue, irritability, drastic mood changes, a change in sleeping

patterns, evidence of heaviness of the arms or legs, loss of appetite, a lack of interest in

training, anxiety, a decrease in performance, poor or irregular heart rate and a high

resting heart rate coupled with a maladapted response to daily training (7). If three or

more of these signs are present methods of preventing further symptoms of

Overtraining Syndrome need to be considered and incorporated (1).



Rise of Injury Following Intermission

Source: USA Olympic Road to Rio

Of particular note is the rise of

injury during the second half of

play immediately following the

5-minute intermission.

Holdhaus (3) revealed that 66%

of all of injuries during the

Women's Euro 2010

Championships occurred during

the second half of competition.

This rise in injury can be

attributed to a combination of

fatigue due to overtraining or

improper training, poor beach

handball skills, cold muscles and

dehydration. If Beach Handball

“athletes do not consume

enough fluid to maintain

euhydration then a detriment in

performance is almost certain”

(4). Beach Handball players may

lose one liter of fluid during

training and games. This equates to 2% of body mass for the female Beach Handballer

(4). It has been empirically established over decades of sport science research that even

small fluid deficits challenge the cardiovascular system and drastically reduce

performance (2, 4).



Beach Handball Championships

Source: Beach Handball PanAm Games

Coaching and Training Adjustments

Coaches need to make immediate adjustments addressing the multiple body systems

causing negative changes in performance. The training load should be altered to include

tapering and breaks for sufficient recovery (1). Other successful prevention and

treatment options include increasing hydration, resetting athletic performance goals,

diet modification and educating athletes on the risks for injury and dehydration (6). It is

recommended that female Beach Handballers consume at least 2% of their body mass in



fluids during training and competitions to stay properly hydrated (4). The skill of

preventing, identifying, and treating symptoms of dehydration, injury, and overtraining

in Beach Handballers is imperative as Beach Handball is posed to become one of the

most popular sports in America.

Conclusions and Implications

● Hydrate When You Participate!

● Over Train, No Gain!

USA Beach Handball

Source: USA Beach Handball


http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=e2U037YAAAAJ&hl=en


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About the Author

Author: Dr. Robelyn Garcia is a

Multidisciplinary Professor and Scholar,

Beach Handball Curriculum Writer,

Interdisciplinary Professor, the Vice

President of American Community

Team Sports, the President of the SW Jr.

NBA-WNBA, a former Professional

Basketball player and Kinesiology

Professor. The author can be reached at

[email protected] or

[email protected]

Source: Google Scholar

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mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=e2U037YAAAAJ&hl=en


Works Cited

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