School-Based Circuit Training Intervention Improves Local Muscular Endurance in Primary School Students: A Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Pediatric Sports Science
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles are growing concerns.
• Assessing and improving local muscular endurance in children is crucial for overall health.
• School-based physical activity programs can be effective in promoting healthy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a 12-week circuit training program on local muscular endurance in normal-weighted primary school boys.
• To compare the effectiveness of circuit training against a control group in enhancing muscular fitness.
• To investigate the influence of baseline endurance levels on training outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A parallel-group randomized trial involving 606 primary school boys.
• Participants were assigned to either an experimental (circuit training) or control group for 12 weeks.
• Local muscular endurance was assessed using sit-ups, dynamic trunk extensions (DTE), and push-ups.

Main Results:

• The circuit training program significantly improved performance in sit-ups, DTE, and push-ups compared to the control group (p < 0.001 for all).
• A significant treatment-grade interaction indicated that the experimental treatment was more beneficial.
• The positive effects of the training were less pronounced in participants with higher baseline local muscular endurance.

Conclusions:

• A 12-week circuit training program using body weight, resistance bands, and medicine balls is suitable for school settings and enhances local muscular endurance in normal-weighted boys.
• The experimental circuit training intervention proved more effective than the control condition.
• Individual baseline muscular endurance capacity should be a consideration in the design of school-based training programs.