title: A six-week trial of hula hooping using a weighted hoop: effects on skinfold, girths, weight, and torso muscle endurance.
abstract: Novel ideas for core endurance training are continually being created. However, studies of their mechanism of action assist in evaluation of their potential as a training tool, for a variety of people and purposes. The specific purpose of this study was to evaluate a weighted hula hooping training program for its efficacy on improving core muscular endurance and influence on measures of body composition. Eighteen women participated in a weighted hula hooping trial lasting 6 weeks, although only 13 returned for posttrial re-assessment. Hip and waist circumferences, 5 torso muscle endurance tests, and 5 skinfold measurements ("sum of 5") were measured before and after the exercise program. Paired samples t-tests were performed to examine pre/post changes. On average, participants experienced a significant decrease in waist and hip circumference -3.4 cm (p < 0.01) and -1.4 cm (p ≤ 0.05), respectively and waist-to-hip ratio from 89.3 cm down to 87.3 cm (t = 3.312, p < 0.01). There were no significant changes in torso muscular endurance after the 6 weeks of hooping; however, the average "sum of 5" skinfold measurements increased by 10.5 cm (p ≤ 0.05). This study of weighted hula hooping suggested that regular hooping was associated with reduced waist and hip girth together with a redistribution of body mass; however, there were no improvements in torso muscular endurance as measured by isometric testing.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Stuart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McGill
authors.forename: Edward D J
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Cambridge
authors.forename: Jordan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D060726:Torso; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio