PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 10-week complex training program on physical fitness and running performance in male marathon club members aged 20–30 years. METHODS Thirty participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either a training group (TR) or a control group (CON). Following participant dropout, data from 14 participants in the TR and 13 in the CON were included in the final analysis. Participants in the TR completed complex training sessions lasting 60 minutes per session, twice per week, for 10 weeks, whereas the CON maintained their usual lifestyle patterns. Dependent variables—including body composition, physical fitness, and running performance—were measured pre- and post-intervention. Comparisons were made between groups and across time points using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS 1) Physical fitness: Squat 1RM, trap bar deadlift 1RM, and countermovement jump performance increased significantly in the TR; 2) Regarding running performance, drop jump and reactive strength index increased significantly in the TR; and 3) Running performance: time to exhaustion decreased significantly in the CON, whereas it was maintained in the TR, suggesting a protective effect of the complex training program. CONCLUSIONS The 10-week complex training program positively affected muscular strength, power, elastic utilization ability, and endurance (time to exhaustion) in male marathon club members. However, its effects were limited with respect to running efficiency, fatigue resistance, and rate of force development. Future studies should consider adjusting training intensity and volume and diversifying exercises to develop more effective programs for enhancing running performance.
PURPOSE This study investigated the effects of 12 weeks of clubbell and stepbox training on physical fitness, badminton skills, and fatigue in male badminton, grade A (top grade) club members aged 20–30s, with over 5 years’ experience. METHODS Participants in a training group (TR: n=15) engaged in 12 weeks of clubbell and stepbox circuit training involving maximum 8–12 reps of clubbell exercises and stepbox exercises at over 77% of HRmax for 50–55 min/sessions three times a week. Participants in a control group (CON: n=15) maintained their normal lifestyle pattern during the same intervention period. Dependent variables were measured and compared using repeated measures two-way ANOVA. RESULTS The main results were as follows: 1) The groups showed no significant differences in body composition. 2) Regarding physical fitness, VO2max, relative peak power, relative average power, grip strength, push ups, repeated jump squats, SSPT (seated single-arm shot-put test), 10 m sprint, and hexagon agility increased significantly in the TR, while push ups decreased significantly in the CON. 3) As for badminton skills, forehand clear accuracy, badminton agility, badminton endurance, and smash speed increased significantly in the TR. Forehand clear accuracy decreased significantly in the CON, but badminton agility and smash speed increased significantly. 4) The groups showed no significant differences in fatigue. CONCLUSIONS In male badminton club members aged 20–30s, 12 weeks of clubbell and stepbox circuit training effectively improved physical fitness and badminton skills. However, lack of any improvement in body composition and fatigue warranted further research in these areas.
PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week unstable surface Pilates training on physical fitness, abdominal muscle thickness, lumbar isokinetic muscle function, and pain in women aged 30–40 who are living a sedentary lifestyle and experiencing nonspecific low back pain. METHODS The training group (TR, n = 15) performed Pilates using small apparatuses on an unstable surface for 50 min/session, three sessions per week for 8 weeks, whereas the control group (n = 13) maintained their usual living pattern during the same intervention period. RESULTS 1) The body weight, body mass index, percent body fat, and fat mass decreased significantly in the TR, 2) whereas the hand grip strength, trunk extension, sit-andreach, and modified Schober test scores improved significantly. 3) The thickness of the external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis increased significantly in the TR. 4) Lumbar isokinetic flexor strength per body weight increased significantly in the TR. The endurance and endurance per body weight of the lumbar isokinetic extensor and lumbar isokinetic flexor also significantly increased in the TR. 5) The Korean Oswestry disability index (KODI) and the visual analog scale (VAS) score decreased significantly in the TR. 6) Significant negative correlations were found between the change rates in the KODI and nondominant hand grip strength, external oblique thickness, transversus abdominis thickness, and lumbar isokinetic extensor endurance. A significant negative correlation was found between the change rates in the VAS score and external oblique thickness. CONCLUSIONS The results revealed that the 8-week unstable surface Pilates training was beneficial in improving physical fitness, abdominal muscle thickness, lumbar isokinetic muscle function, disabilityindex, and pain levels in women aged 30–40 years who were having a sedentary lifestyle and experiencing nonspecific low back pain.
