Effect of Circuit Training upon Muscular Strength among College Students

Abstract

Health-related physical fitness is indispensable for every person irrespective of age, profession and gender to lead a healthy life. One of the key components of health-related physical fitness is muscular strength. The prime objective of the current study was to determine the “effect of Circuit Training upon the muscular strength among college students”. The participants of the study were hostel students of Government Post Graduate College Karak (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Pakistan. A sample of thirty students (n=30) were selected as subjects for the current study through Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). Further the selected subjects were equally and randomly divided into two groups which were Experimental Group (Circuit Training) and Control Group (No treatment). The pre-test data on muscular strength of each subject was obtained through one minute push-ups test. The treatment of Circuit Training was given to experimental groupon alternate days (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) for twelve weeks. No special kind of training was given to the control group in the same time except the subjects continued their routine life engagements. After 12 weeks’ treatment, the post-test data on muscular strength of each subject was obtained through the test adopted for the pre-test. The pre-test data and post-test date was analyzed by applying the descriptive statistical sources (Mean, Standard Deviation, minimum and maximum) and inferential statistical tools (independent sample t test and paired sample t test). The significance level was fixed at 0.05 to test the hypothesis. The results of the study showed that Circuit Traininghas significant effects on muscular strength. The control group didnot show any improvement in muscular strength because it was not given any sort of treatment. It was concluded that in order for people to ameliorate their muscular strength which is one of the key components of physical fitness, they should partake regularly in Circuit Training.

Key words: Circuit Training, muscular strength, college students