ArticleLife (Basel, Switzerland)2026
Acute Biochemical Responses to Competitive Tournament Load in Female Handball Players: Hormonal, Inflammatory and Muscle Damage Markers.
Article in Life (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Unilateral Compound Training Reduces Lower-Limb Strength Asymmetry and Enhances Athletic Performance in Female Handball Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Effects of aerobic and resistance exercises on cardiovascular biomarkers in sedentary females: a randomized controlled trial.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Pre-exercise mood, sex-specific hormonal and neuromodulatory responses to maximal exertion in elite rowers.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Article
- Integrated monitoring of training and sport performance throughout an entire handball season: practical applications in semi-professional female players.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundCongested tournament schedules impose substantial physiological stress in team sports; however, the integrated endocrine and inflammatory responses to real competitive match load in female handball players remain insufficiently characterized.
objectiveThis study aimed to characterize the acute biochemical responses, including hormonal, inflammatory, muscle damage, and bone metabolism markers, elicited by competitive tournament load in female handball players and to provide practical insights for optimizing recovery strategies and load management during short-term competitive periods.
methodsIn a pre-post study design, venous blood samples were collected from competitive female athletes (n = 8; age 20.83 ± 2.93 years) before the first match and after the fourth consecutive match of an official university qualification tournament. Biochemical analyses included cortisol, insulin, IL-6, creatine kinase (CK), IGF-1, irisin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), osteocalcin, and testosterone. Pre-to-post changes were assessed using paired
resultsTournament load induced substantial multisystem physiological perturbations. Significant increases were observed in cortisol (
conclusionsThese findings demonstrate that congested tournament schedules provoke an integrated endocrine-inflammatory stress response in female handball players. Importantly, the observed anabolic-catabolic imbalance highlights the need for individualized recovery strategies, optimized load management, and adequate recovery periods to mitigate maladaptation and reduce injury risk during short-term competitive tournaments.
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