The Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Some of the Physical Fitness and Skill Indices of Female Volleyball Players

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ramadan fasting on some female volleyball players’ physical fitness and skill indices.  Methods: This study was conducted on 49 female volleyball players with at least three years of regular participation in sports activities who participated voluntarily and objectively. Participants were divided into fasting and non-fasting groups. The participants performed muscular strength and power, agility, reaction time, skills, and perceived exertion tests during four sessions before fasting, two weeks after fasting, and two weeks following recovery.  T-test was used for data analysis. Results: The perceived exertion increased following one day [p=0.001] and two weeks of fasting [p=0.000], and agility decreased following two weeks of fasting [p=0.028], while other variables did not significantly change during repetitive measurements. Conclusion: Some physical fitness indices decreased in athletes, and perceived exertion increased during fasting. Thus, athletic competitions are not recommended during Ramadan fasting.