Acute Effects of Handball Game on the Retinal Vessel Diameters and Blood Circulation in Professional Handball Players

Proper planning of athletes’ workload during training, especially in preparation for championships or other important competitions, is crucial to avoid serious health complications. Athletes are exposed to significant physical, emotional and psychological stress during training and competitions. The assessment of athletes’ physiological parameters before and after training is important not only for their athletic performance but also for their general health, both during active participation in sport and later in life. The aim of this study was to determine anthropometric characteristics and changes in the retinal vessel diameters, arterial blood pressure, heart rate, cerebrospinal fluid pressure and blood oxygenation in all handball players before and after competitive training and to relate these parameters to the most important modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Methods. The study took place as part of training sessions in training centers. The test subjects were instructed to abstain from sport and alcohol for 24 hours, not to consume any caffeinated or carbonated drinks for 6 hours and not to eat for at least 2 hours before the measurements. Baseline measurements were carried out on all handball players. The experiments began at 18:00. On arrival, physical activity was assessed, and anthropometric measurements were taken. Participants were then asked to rest in a seated position. After a 10-minute rest, arterial blood pressure, heart ratio and blood oxygenation were measured. The retinal fundus of professional handball players was imaged immediately before and after a competitive match using a non-mydriatic fundus camera. Results. 13 handball players took part in the study. After training, the average weight of the subjects decreased by 0.515 (0.41) kg, systolic blood pressure by 3.85 (15.15) mmHg, diastolic by 4.85 (9.045) mmHg, MAP by 4.565 (7.87) mmHg, CSFP by 0.79 (1.44) mmHg, SpO2by 1.15 (1.625) %. After training, only the average heart rate increased by 38.23 (36.33) bmp. Mean retinal arterial diameter decreased slightly in both eyes, whereas mean venous diameter increased. Conclusions. We found a significant increase in mean heart rate after training, but a slight decrease in the other parameters analyzed: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, MAP, CSFP, SpO2 and weight. We would attribute the decrease in these indicators to insufficient recovery of fluid balance. Venous measurements exhibited greater inter-individual variability that arterial measurements, with a non-significant trend toward post-exercise arterial narrowing and venous widening.