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- Title
Study Regarding Fitness Improvement Using Step Aerobics Programs.
- Authors
Moraru, Cristina-Elena
- Abstract
Step aerobics represents and efficient and pleasant alternative for achieving fitness. Through its contents, this type of activity contributes to developing resistance, strength of lower body muscles and, not least, coordination. The purpose of this paper is to note whether - after practicing systematically the aerobic effort using step aerobics programs - muscles become more toned, joint mobility and muscle elasticity increase and whether balance and motor memory improve. The hypothesis of the paper was the following: by using the step aerobic program, we can improve the fitness of people who practice this type of physical activity. The sample within our research comprised 30 women aged between 20 and 35. The study was conducted throughout a year and trainings took place three times a week. The step aerobic sessions lasted for 60 minutes. The tests applied to the research sample were as follows: test for abdominal and arm muscle strength and resistance; assessment of spine mobility in anterior plane; balance test; push-ups; and motor memory. Findings The values of mean and of standard deviation in the test for abdominal and arm muscle strength and resistance improved from 8.2±2.97 in the initial testing, to 13.00±1.94, while the variability coefficient dropped from 36.21% to 14.92%. In the test for joint mobility and muscle elasticity, the values increased from 22.8±5.91 to 28.9±4.92, while the variability coefficient de-creased from 25.93% to 17.05%. Regarding the balance test, values recorded a progress from 2.8±0.78 balance losses to 1.2±0.48, while homogeneity improved from 27.85% to 15.70%. As for the test of arm muscle strength, values augmented from 6.3±1.63 initially to 8.8 ± 1.13 in the end, while homogeneity increased from 25.87% to 12.84%. Furthermore, the values of motor memory testing augmented from 4.3± 1.25 to 7.2± 0.78, while homogeneity from 29.10% to 10.95%. Conclusions After processing and interpreting the results, we posit that step aerobic programs contributed to the fitness improvement of female practitioners; thus, the paper hypothesis was confirmed.
- Subjects
PHYSICAL fitness; STEP aerobics; PHYSICAL activity; MUSCLE strength testing; RANGE of motion of joints
- Publication
Arena: Journal of Physical Activities, 2016, Issue 5, p57
- ISSN
2285-830X
- Publication type
Article