Effects of recreational team handball on bone health, postural balance and body composition in inactive postmenopausal women - A randomised controlled trial

This study reports the effects of a recreational team handball exercise programme (randomised controlled trial, RCT) on bone health, postural balance and body composition in untrained postmenopausal women without previous experience of the sport. Sixty-seven postmenopausal women without previous experience of team handball practice (68.3±6.2 years, stature 156.9±5.8 cm, body mass 65.6±9.6 kg, body fat 40.9±5.9%, VO_2peak 25.2±3.6 mL.min^-1.kg^-1) were randomised into team handball (THG, n=41) and control (CG, n=26) groups. During the 16-week intervention period, THG performed two to three 60-min training sessions per week, while CG continued with their habitual physical activity. Bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC), biochemical bone formation (osteocalcin (OC), procollagen type-1 amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP)) and resorption markers (carboxy-terminal type-1 collagen crosslinks (CTX)), postural balance, body fat and lean mass were evaluated at baseline and post intervention. A time x group interaction (p≤0.02) was shown for lumbar spine BMD (+1.5%) and BMC (+2.3%), P1NP (+37.6±42.4%), OC (+41.9±27.0%) and postural balance (-7±37% falls), in favour of THG with no changes in CG. This RCT showed that short-term recreational team handball practice had an impact on bone turnover and was effective for improving bone health and postural balance in postmenopausal women without previous experience of the sport, hence potentially helping to reduce the risk of falls and fractures.