The effect of Ramadan fasting on the morning-evening difference in team-handball-related short-term maximal physical performances in elite female team-handball players

• Published in: Chronobiology international 2021-10, Vol.38 (10), p.1488-1499
• Main Authors: Mhenni, Thouraya, Souissi, Amine, Tayech, Amel, Yousfi, Narimen, Mejri, Mohamed Arbi, Chamari, Karim, Souissi, Nizar, Khlifa, Riadh, Haddad, Monoem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ball-throwing velocity; Diurnal variation; matches; oral temperature; physical performance; sprint
• ISSN: 0742-0528; 1525-6073
• DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2021.1932994

The combined effect of Ramadan fasting and the time of theday on the physical performance of team-handball players has not yet been fully investigated. This study investigated the effects of Ramadan fasting on the morning-evening difference in team-handball-related short-term maximal physical performance. With acounterbalanced study design, 15 elite female team-handball players underwent the hand grip (HG), ball throwing velocity (BTV), modified agility T-test (MAT), and repeated shuttle-sprint and jump ability (RSSJA) tests at 07:00 h and 17:00 h, one week before Ramadan (BR), and during thesecond (SWR) and fourth week of Ramadan (4WR). The oral temperature (OT) was monitored prior to exercise and the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) scale were obtained after RSSJA. The results showed that the time of theday had an effect on OT under all conditions. The HG, BTV, and MAT test performances were higher in the evening than in the morning BR (P