@article{Alonso-Fernández_Lima-Correa_Gutierrez-Sánchez_Abadía-García de Vicuña_2017, title={Effects of a high-intensity interval training protocol based on functional exercises on performance and body composition in handball female players}, volume={12}, url={https://www.jhse.ua.es/article/view/2017-v12-n4-high-intensity-interval-training-protocol-functional}, DOI={10.14198/jhse.2017.124.05}, abstractNote={The aim of this study is to measure the impact of 8-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) based on functional exercises on the following variables in handball female players: weight (kg), body mass index (BMI), % fat, jumping (cm), repeated sprint ability (RSA), aerobic capacity. Fourteen female players were randomly assigned either to an experimental group (GE, n=7) which would undertake a “mixed functional HIIT” (combining strength, coordination and plyometric exercises) before training sessions, or to a control group (GC, n=7), in which HIIT was replaced by usual warm-up exercises in the field. The intervention programme lasted 8 weeks, with two training sessions a week. A pre-test and post-test on each variable were carried out. The intra-group GC analysis showed no significant changes between the pre- and post-test in any variable. Figures for the GE, though, showed significant changes: a 3.45% (d=0.67) reduction in % fat of players, RSA execution time went down by 7.22% RSA (d=0.82), and VO2max increased by 6.19% (d=0.78). These results seem to point to “mixed functional HIIT” as an effective strategy to improve body composition and performance in female handball players.}, number={4}, journal={Journal of Human Sport and Exercise}, author={Alonso-Fernández, Diego and Lima-Correa, Fabio and Gutierrez-Sánchez, Águeda and Abadía-García de Vicuña, Olaia}, year={2017}, month={Dec.}, pages={1186–1198} }