The relationship between force sensation test and accuracy test on the court in handball players

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between strength perception and hitting success in professional handball players. Twenty elite (8 female and 12 male) handball players participated in the study. Maximal voluntary isometric strength tests with an isokinetic dynamometer and target strength sensation test at 50% of maximal level were performed in the laboratory. Then, a 7-meter accuracy test, ball throwing test to maximal distance, and pass accuracy test to 50% of maximal were performed on the field. The data obtained in the field test and the data obtained in the laboratory were analyzed comparatively. In the laboratory, as the maximal isometric strength of the athlete increased, the targeted force acuity deteriorated significantly (p=.017, r=.525). On the other hand, there was no correlation between maximal voluntary concentric contraction maximal throwing distance in the field and the means of 50% distance (p=.381, r=.207) and 7 m deviation from the target (p=.208, r=.294). There is no correlation between maximal isometric voluntary contraction amount and maximal throwing distance (p=.544, r=-.144). There was a significant relationship between dominant arm muscle weight and maximal throwing distance (p=.001, r=.671). There was no relationship between dominant arm muscle weight and maximal isometric contraction (p=.581, r=.131). In conclusion, the tests performed in the laboratory confirm the information in the literature. However, there is no relation between these findings and pass and shot accuracy in handball game. The reason for the different findings compared to the literature may be due to the difference in contraction type and the fact that shoulder rotation muscles are muscles that produce less force than other muscles. Concentric strength sensation tests should be developed instead of isometric strength tests for handball. Keywords: Proprioception, Force Sense, Handball, Shot Accuracy, 7 meter Throwing.