Abstract

This study was conducted in order to determine the influence of five-day handball competitions on hematological levels of male handball players. 12 elite male handball players with an average age of 22.16±1.85 years participated in this study on voluntary basis. Physical measurements including body height, body weight, body-mass index and body fat percentages and hematological levels of the handball players were analyzed before (BC) and after the competitions (AC). In order to determine hematological levels, blood samples with 5 ml EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) were taken from the forearm ante-cubital area in line with hygiene rules before and after competitions, and erythrocyte, leucocytes and blood platelet parameters were analyzed in laboratory with using auto-analyzers. Measurement results were presented as average and standard deviation. Student T-test for dependant samples was used in order to make a comparison between BC and AC values. SPSS 13.0 Package software was used for data evaluation.P<0.05 value was considered to be significant. As a result of the study, the decrease in BC and AC values for body weight, body-mass index, body fat percentages, MCV, MCH, CH and LY and the increase in RBC and NE values were found significant. Conclusively, erythrocyte, leucocytes and blood platelet levels display different behaviors vis-à-vis acute competition-like exercises.

Key words: Handball players, competition, erythrocytes, leucocytes, blood platelet parameters