Comparison of two exercise protocols on fitness score improvement in poorly conditioned Air Force personnel.
A 12-wk. study was conducted to contrast the effects of a longer and more frequent aerobic exercise protocol with a shorter and less frequent circuit strength-training protocol for improving U.S. Air Force physical fitness test scores of subjects who previously failed to achieve a passing point total. 83 men and women of the U.S. Air Force (M age = 32.7 yr.) participated in either the unsupervised standard conditioning program, which recommended approximately 60 min. of aerobic activity 4 to 5 days per week (n=26), or the supervised circuit strength-training program, which required approximately 25 min. of alternating strength and endurance exercises 3 days per week (n=57). Subjects were assessed on a 2400-m (1.5-mile) run, abdominal circumference, push-ups completed in 1 min., and abdominal crunches completed in 1 min. Dependent t tests with Bonferroni adjustment indicated that significant improvements were attained by the circuit strength-training group only on each of the aforementioned measures. Significantly more participants in the circuit strength-training group (26%) achieved a passing point total than in the standard conditioning group (19%) at Wk. 12 (chi1(2) =3.96, p = .05). Implications for enhancing physical fitness in poorly conditioned adults were discussed.
Westcott
Wayne L
WL
South Shore YMCA, 79 Coddington Street, Quincy, MA 02169, USA. wwestcott@ssymca.org
Annesi
James J
JJ
Skaggs
Jerry M
JM
Gibson
Jill R
JR
Reynolds
Roger D
RD
O'Dell
J Pat
JP
D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012420:Running; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D014891:Weight Lifting