Ecological Validity of Maximal Exercise Tests to Simulate Competitive Demands in Amateur Female Handball

Abstract

Purpose: Laboratory tests are fundamental for assessing handball performance, but their ecological validity for amateur
female players is unclear. This exploratory study compared physiological and perceptual responses between common
maximal exercise tests and official match play to determine if they replicate competitive demands.
Methods: Sixteen amateur female handball players completed three laboratory tests (Wingate, cycle ergometer, treadmill)
and were monitored during ten official matches. The data collection included both physiological and psychological indicators:
heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), perceived stress, and mood states.
Results: Peak HR values recorded in the Wingate and Cycle ergometer were lower than those reached during actual
competition (d = -.77 to -.75, P< .05). In addition, compared with the Wingate and cycle ergometer tests, competitive matches
required players to spend a significantly larger proportion of time with their HR exceeding 90% of its maximum. This
contrast was less evident when compared with the treadmill test. A clear mismatch was observed between physiological and
perceptual measures. Despite showing stronger physiological strain during matches -such as greater weight loss and higher
pre-exercise lactate levels- players reported significantly lower RPE values than in the laboratory conditions (d = .27 to .36,
P< .05).
Conclusions: None of the laboratory-based tests accurately reproduced the full demands of a handball match. Although
the treadmill test elicited similar peak HR values, it failed to reflect the sport’s intermittent nature. The Wingate and cycle
tests showed even greater discrepancies in cardiovascular intensity. These findings underline the importance of developing
sport-specific or hybrid assessment protocols that integrate intermittent workloads and cognitive demands for a more valid
evaluation of performance.