## 4 Discussion  
In the present study, we identified differences between playing positions in anthropometric characteristics, isometric maximal leg strength, sprinting and vertical jumping performance, and established new evidence on the relationship between anthropometry, physical performance, and ball velocity as an indicator of game performance. The most novel findings of this study were related to isokinetic performance, adding to the few reports of the isokinetic maximal strength and strength imbalances in elite male handball players that have been published to our knowledge [19; 20; 21]. Our results suggest that maximal knee flexor and extensor strength is related to playing position, whereas no differences between playing positions were observed in bilateral muscle imbalances or the ratios between knee joint agonists and antagonists. In the previous studies of sports performance in elite handball, the investigators applied different methods to assess maximal leg strength. Most of those studies on elite male handball players used different variations of maximal squat tests to determine maximal leg strength [4; 11; 15; 32], while (only) a small body of evidence used isokinetic testing [19; 20], despite it being considered the gold standard for assessing quadriceps and hamstring maximal strength and muscle imbalances [17; 18]. Most studies measuring maximal isokinetic knee strength were performed with females [18; 24; 38; 39], likely due to higher rates of anterior cruciate ligament injuries, compared with males [40], while only two isokinetic studies included male handball players [19; 20]. In the latter studies, male handball players were recognized as functionally balanced athletes, where maximal unilateral (50-69%) and bilateral (10-15%) muscle strength differences were in the normal range [19; 20]. This was similarly demonstrated in our study, although there were no bilateral differences in maximal strength of flexors and extensors, or muscle imbalances between hamstrings and quadriceps on each leg at 60\({}^{\circ}\)/s and 180\({}^{\circ}\)/s. Our relative values of maximal flexion and extension torque at 60\({}^{\circ}\)/s and 180\({}^{\circ}\)/s (N/kg) were also similar to a report by [PERSON] et al. [20]. Additionally, our study also evaluated the difference between playing positions in relative maximal strength and muscle imbalances. Backcourt and wing players were the strongest in extension and flexion, independent of muscle mass at both angular velocities. These results may potentially be associated with game demands, as wings and backcourt players perform the most jumps and throws [7]. In contrast, all playing positions showed symmetrical strength (unilateral and bilateral ratios in the normal range) between legs and within each leg analysis. Studies have suggested that anthropometric characteristics are related to playing position. In our study, wing players were the shortest, had the lowest body weight, shortest wingspan and smallest thigh circumference, while pivots had the highest body weight, skeletal muscle mass, and body fat mass content. These results were in line with previous studies [7; 10; 13; 14; 15; 16] from elite and sub-elite male handball players. Despite the similar ages of players and the differences between playing positions in body weight and height, our subsample of backcourt players, pivots, and goalkeepers was generally shorter and lighter than players competing on elite German [10; 14], Norwegian [15], and national teams playing in the World Championship [9]. Thus, these differences can be explained by the level of play and age. Players competing in lower leagues were generally shorter [10], independent of playing position, whereas pivots in higher leagues were heavier and had the highest body mass index [14]. Also, younger elite handball players were shorter, lighter, had lower free fat mass and body mass index values compared to elite adult players [16].