School-Based Comprehensive Strength Training Interventions to Improve Muscular Fitness and Perceived Physical Competence in Chinese Male Adolescents

Abstract

Purpose. This research was to see how effective and feasible school-based comprehensive strength training programs are in improving muscular fitness and perceived physical competence in Chinese male adolescents. Methods. A total of 123 participants ( 13.46 ± 0.60 years) were randomized to comprehensive strength training intervention group (CST) ( n = 62 ) and the control group (CON) ( n = 61 ). The training sessions were performed three times a week for ten weeks in CST. Muscular fitness (i.e., muscular strength, power, and muscular endurance) and perceived physical competence were assessed at initial testing and final testing. Results.The subjects in the CST significantly improved their mean performance in standing long jump ( p < 0.05 ), vertical jump ( p < 0.05 ), 1 min push-ups ( p < 0.05 ), 1 min sit-ups ( p < 0.05 ), handgrip strength ( p < 0.05 ), and perceived physical competence ( p < 0.05 ) after the intervention. Moreover, the CST were greater in standing long jump ( p < 0.05 ), vertical jump ( p < 0.05 ), 1 min sit-ups ( p < 0.05 ), handgrip strength ( p < 0.05 ), and perceived physical competence ( p < 0.05 ) compared to the CON, but no in 1 min push-ups ( p > 0.05 ). Conclusions. The comprehensive strength training interventions designed in this study can significantly increase male adolescents’ muscular fitness, especially in the lower extremity muscle power and abdominal core endurance, and can enhance their perceived physical competence.

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

“…The systematic review and meta-analysis by Villa-González, Barranco-Ruiz, García-Hermoso, and Faigenbaum [ 16 ] found that school-based exercise interventions were associated with significant moderate increases in local muscular endurance (g = 0.65 95% CI, 0.13 to 1.17, p = 0.020; I 2 = 85.0%), with higher effects when using interventions with ≥3 sessions per week. Zhao, Liu, Han, Li, Liu, Chen, and Li [ 17 ] proved that school-based interventions improved local muscular endurance in sit-ups (14.96%) and push-ups (15.73%), the finds of which are somewhat similar to our study.…”

“…The findings indicated that exercise interventions, predominantly combined interventions targeting selected domains of muscular fitness, were associated with significant moderate increases in local muscular endurance, muscular strength, and muscular power, with more significant effects observed with three sessions per week. Lastly, Zhao et al [ 17 ] implemented a comprehensive strength training program for Chinese male adolescents to examine its effects on muscular fitness and perceived physical competence. The comprehensive strength training intervention improved their muscular fitness, notably lowered their extremity muscle power and abdominal core endurance, and increased their perceived physical competence, according to the study.…”

Comparative effectiveness of school-based exercise interventions on physical fitness in children and adolescents: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

“…A total of 3,486 participants (1,685 girls) were included in the control group (CON) group that participated in regular physical activity (PA) or physical education (PE), 426 participants (171 girls) were included in the active video games (AVGs) group (24-31), 1,670 participants (803 girls) were included in the game-based exercise (GB) group (32-42), 1,085 participants (522 girls) were included in the high-intensity interval training (HIIT) group (36, 37, 43-65), 1,005 participants (462 girls) were included in the strength training (ST) group (41,(66)(67)(68)(69)(70)(71)(72)(73)(74)(75)(76)(77)(78)(79)(80)(81)(82), 599 participants (300 girls) were included in the aerobic training (AT) group (49,53,56,61,62,66,76,(83)(84)(85)(86)(87), and 307 participants (197 girls) were included in the combined aerobic and strength training (CT) group (68-71, 76, 88, 89). Interventions lasted on average of 13.9 ± 9.6 weeks and ranged from 4 to 50 weeks, with 73% of studies lasting less than 12 weeks.…”

Changes in Muscle Mass and Strength in Adolescents Following High-Intensity Functional Training with Bodyweight Resistance Exercises in Physical Education Lessons

“…Recently, there has been a lot of interest in introducing intermittent/interval exercises into PE lessons, in which short-term intense physical activity is interspersed with periods of recovery, just as it usually happens when children play [ 10 ]. Also, some resistance exercise modalities introduced into PE have proven effective in muscular fitness development [ 11 ]. These programs also contribute to improvements in self-perceived physical abilities.…”