Effects of Circuit Training Combined with Different Neuromuscular Activities on Muscular Endurance and Body Composition of School Girls

Abstract

Background: Due to the lack of physical activity now a day’s many youngsters are having health issues to do their regular activities. Muscular endurance and proper body composition are important to enable the person to carry out different type of day to day activities and sport activities all over the life time. The sport training is the way to develop one’s health and physical fitness to live a healthy.Purpose: To identify the 12 weeks training effects of circuit training combined with different neuromuscular activities on muscular endurance and body composition of school girls.Method: This is an intervention study carried out to compare effects of 4 groups. Group 1 (n=15), who trained circuit training (CT), group 2(n=15), who trained circuit training combined with resistance band (CT-RB), group 3(n=15), who trained circuit training combined with skipping rope (CT-SR) and group-4(n=15) control group (CG). The pre and post test data was collected for the muscular enduranceand body composition.Results: The difference between pre and post test was significant (p< 0.05) in the intervention groups and insignificant (p>0.01) in control group.Conclusion: The circuit training combined with resistance band and skipping rope produced greater improvement on muscular endurance and reduced percentage of body compositionKeywords: Circuit training, Resistance band, Skipping Rope, Muscular endurance, Intervention.

Full text

30 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, December 2019, Vol. 10, No. 12
Eects of Circuit Training Combined with Dierent
Neuromuscular Activities on Muscular Endurance and
Body Composition of School Girls
K. Sudha1, D. Maniazhagu2
1Ph.D Scholar, 2Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education and Health Sciences,
Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamilnadu
Abstract
Background: Due to the lack of physical activity now a day’s many youngsters are having health issues
to do their regular activities. Muscular endurance and proper body composition are important to enable the
person to carry out dierent type of day to day activities and sport activities all over the life time. The sport
training is the way to develop one’s health and physical tness to live a healthy.
Purpose: To identify the 12 weeks training eects of circuit training combined with dierent neuromuscular
activities on muscular endurance and body composition of school girls.
Method: This is an intervention study carried out to compare eects of 4 groups. Group 1 (n=15), who
trained circuit training (CT), group 2(n=15), who trained circuit training combined with resistance band
(CT-RB), group 3(n=15), who trained circuit training combined with skipping rope (CT-SR) and group-
4(n=15) control group (CG). The pre and post test data was collected for the muscular enduranceand body
composition.
Results: The dierence between pre and post test was signicant (p< 0.05) in the intervention groups and
insignicant (p>0.01) in control group.
Conclusion: The circuit training combined with resistance band and skipping rope produced greater
improvement on muscular endurance and reduced percentage of body composition
Keywords: Circuit training, Resistance band, Skipping Rope, Muscular endurance, Intervention.
Introduction
Dramatic physiological and psychological changes
occur in childhood and adolescence period. This is a
critical period of life. The lifestyle, healthy and unhealthy
behaviors are develops in this stage. These may inuence
health behaviors in adult stage. The detailed reviews
have conversed about the associations between physical
activities and its consequences on health in childhood
and adolescence .1-6
Now a day’s tness is considered as most important
health indicators in childhood.7 The concept of physical
tness has since evolved to include morphological and
metabolic components.8 Thus, in the previous decades
a number of countries have been promoting physical
tness development among young people in dierent
mode.9 In many situation, schools have been measured
the best setting in which children with small tness
levels can be recognized and a healthy lifestyle can be
carry out.7 It is acknowledged that preparation of long-
term tness programme is one of the most excellent
ways to improve tness components.10 However in the
Physical Education setting these programme cannot
lost the entire course or a large part of it since many
curricular contents should be developed in a school
year.11 Therefore, in the physical education setting we
require to nd short-term programme that could be also
helpful for the growth of physical tness. An excellent
methodology that meets these criteria could be the
circuit training.12-14 This training eciently reduces the
DOI Number: 10.37506/v10/i12/2019/ijphrd/192189

Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, December 2019, Vol. 10, No. 12 31
time devoted to training while allowing and sucient
training volume to be achieved.15 Furthermore, it allows
a higher motor engagement time.16 Adding together,
this methodology has multilevel eects on tness,
particularly in beginners.15, 12, 17
Circuit training is often erroneously portrayed as
an intensive and stressful form of exercise, with a drill
sergeant type in the middle of a circuit bellowing orders
at weary recruits. Circuit training is a very versatile and
adaptable mode of training that requires the performance
of a series of carefully selected exercises. The use
of resistance bands and cords as a form of exercise is
becoming increasingly popular.18 In this study, the
resistance band and skipping rope training have chosen
as a neuromuscular activity.
Resistance band and cords are an eective
complement or alternative to any strength and power
training workout. Like other strength training exercises,
these bands and cords can provide strength gains in
both muscle and bones by providing resistance.19 Rope
jumping is one of only a few inexpensive, highly portable
and easily learned tness and sports training exercises
that require the precise coordination of several muscle
groups. 20
Method
Participants: Sixty healthy school girls children,
12-14 years old (13.10+0.38 years; body mass
45.29+10.45 kg; body height 1.40+0.03 m; body mass
index 18.35+2.90 kg/m2) from ADW Higher Secondary
School participated in this study. Children and their legal
guardians were fully informed about all the features of
the study and were required to sign an informed consent
form. The Departmental Research Committee of the
Department of Physical Education, Alagappa University
approved the study protocol.
Study Design: The sixty school girls were divided
into three experimental and one control group. The
experimental group 1, 2 and 3 were performed circuit
training, circuit training combined with resistance
band and circuit training combined with skipping rope
respectively. The subjects performed their training
interventions for the period of 12 weeks. The control
group did not entertain any specic type of activity.
Data Collection: The muscular endurance was
tested by sit ups test; this is a standardized test for
assessing the muscular endurance. The body composition
was tested by BMI calculation. The data on muscular
endurance and body composition was collected from the
participants before and after the training interventions.
Statistics: The analysis of variance was used to
analyze the pre and post test development in the groups.
The analysis of covariance was used to nd the adjusted
post test mean dierences among the groups. The pair
wise comparisons were made by Schee’s Post Hoc test.
Results
Muscular Endurance:
Table 1: Showing the analysis of co-variance on the parameter of muscular endurance (Measures in Counts)
CT CT-RB CT-SR CG F p value
Pre test (M+SD) 11.26+0.79 11.0+0.92 11.2+0.94 11.13+0.91 0.24 0.87
Post test (M+SD) 12.73+0.59 14.66+0.72 14.86+0.74 10.53+0.51 144.6* 0.00
Adjusted post test Mean 12.71 14.69 14.85 10.53 155.5* 0.00
CT-Circuit training, CT-RB- Circuit training combined with resistance band, CT-SR- Circuit training combined with skipping rope, CG-
Control group, M= Mean, SD=Standard Deviation; *=Signicant, p=Signicance level from one way analysis of covariance, Signicant
at p< 0.01, Insignicant at p>0.05
The table-1 shows the statistical end results of pre,
post and adjusted post test on muscular endurance of
dierent groups. The results proved that, the pre test
mean values show the insignicant (F=0.24, p>0.05)
eect on muscular endurance among the groups.
Further, the results show that post and adjusted post test
show signicant dierences (Post test F=144.6, p< 0.05
and Adjusted Post test F=155.5, p< 0.05) on muscular
endurance among the groups. Finally, the analysis
shows that there was a signicant positive improvement
on muscular endurance of dierence groups.

32 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, December 2019, Vol. 10, No. 12
The table 2 shows the pair wise comparisons of
Schee’s Post Hoc test.
Table 2: Pair wise comparisons muscular endurance
Groups Mean Dierences Schee’s (p value)
CT and CT-RB 1.98* 0.000
CT and CT-SR 2.14* 0.000
CT and CG 2.17* 0.000
CT-RB and CT-SR 0.15 1.000
CT-RB and CG 4.61* 0.000
CT-SR and CG 4.31* 0.000
The table 2 shows the pair wise comparisons on
muscular endurance of dierent groups.
• The results proved that there was a signicant
dierences were found in CT and CT-RB, CT and
CT-SR, CT and CG, CT-RB and CG, CT-SR and
CG.
• Insignicant dierence was found between CT-RB
and CT-SR.
Body Composition:
Table 3: Showing the analysis of co-variance on the parameter of body composition
(Measures in Percentage)
CT CT-RB CT-SR CG F p value
Pre test (M+SD) 24.05+0.49 24.03+0.45 24.03+0.49 24.02+0.45 0.006 0.99
Post test (M+SD) 23.81+0.43 23.50+0.17 23.13+0.07 24.2+0.44 29.47* 0.00
Adjusted post test Mean 23.81 23.51 23.13 24.2 42.22* 0.00
CT-Circuit training, CT-RB- Circuit training combined with resistance band, CT-SR- Circuit training combined with skipping rope, CG-
Control group, M= Mean, SD=Standard Deviation; *=Signicant, p=Signicance level from one way analysis of covariance, Signicant
at p< 0.01, Insignicant at p>0.05
The table-3 shows the statistical end results of pre,
post and adjusted post test on body composition of
dierent groups. The results proved that, the pre test
mean values show the insignicant (F=0.006, p>0.05)
eect on body composition among the groups. Further,
the results show that post and adjusted post test show
signicant dierences (Post test F=29.47, p< 0.05
and Adjusted Post test F=42.22, p< 0.05) on body
composition among the groups. Finally, the analysis
shows that there was a signicant positive alteration on
body composition of dierence groups.
The table-4 shows the pair wise comparisons of
Schee’s Post Hoc test.
Table 4: Pair wise comparisons body composition
Groups Mean Dierences Schee’s (p value)
CT and CT-RB 0.3* 0.019
CT and CT-SR 0.68* 0.000
CT and CG 0.38* 0.001
CT-RB and CT-SR 0.37* 0.002
CT-RB and CG 0.69* 0.000
CT-SR and CG 1.1* 0.000
The table-4 shows the pair wise comparisons on
body composition of dierent groups.
The results proved that there was a signicant
dierences were found in CT and CT-RB, CT and CT-
SR, CT and CG, CT-RB and CT-SR, CT-RB and CG,
CT-SR and CG.
Discussions
In this study, circuit training combined with dierent
neuromuscular activities for 12 weeks have signicantly
improved the capacity of muscular endurance and
decreased the percentage of body composition. The
training produced relative eect between the study
groups. The muscular endurance was better improved
in circuit training combined with resistance band and
circuit training with skipping rope training than the other
training group. The body composition was better altered
in the circuit training with skipping rope training than
the other training groups.
We conrmed that, twelve weeks of circuit training
combined with dierent neuromuscular activities (i.e.,

Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, December 2019, Vol. 10, No. 12 33
resistance band and skipping rope) signicantly improved
the muscular endurance compared to the control group.
The percentage of improvement on muscular endurance
for circuit training was 10.03%, circuit training combined
with resistance band was 33.27% and circuit training
combined with skipping rope training was 32.67%. From
the results CT-RB and CT-SR produced more or less
same eect on muscular endurance than CT. Both the
trainings are suitable for the improvement of muscular
endurance. The earlier studies on muscular strength and
endurance reveals that 12 weeks of combined exercise
or 8 weeks of high intensity circuit training improve the
muscular endurance, grip and back strength in obese
women.21 Abdominal muscular endurance and cardio
vascular endurance in school children were developed
due to the circuit training program.22 The circuit training
alone develops the muscular strength and power better
than combined training of resistance and endurance
training.23 We think that the improvement is due to the
dierent type of circuit exercises and neuromuscular
activities applied with the time, duration, intensity and
recovery. Findings of this study indicate that the circuit
training with neuromuscular activities for the period of
12 weeks improves the muscular endurance. The circuit
training with dierent neuromuscular activities is useful
for the development of muscular endurance in school
going students.
We established that, twelve weeks of circuit
training combined with dierent neuromuscular
activities (i.e., resistance band and skipping rope)
signicantly decreased the body composition compared
to the control group. The percentage of improvement on
body composition for circuit training was 1.0%, circuit
training combined with resistance band was 2.2% and
circuit training combined with skipping rope training
was 3.7%. From the results CT-SR greatly decreased
the body composition than the CT-RB and CT. The
previous study ndings are in line with the ndings
of the present study. The positive eects of circuit
strength training on body composition parameters were
observed.24 The moderate intensity of circuit resistance
training increases lean body mass, bone mineral density
and reduces body fat percentage.25 The circuit weight
training and aerobic exercise for the period of 12 weeks
resulted in positive eects on body composition.26 In
the present study, the alteration of body composition
was due to the gradual increase of intensity of exercise,
frequency, repetition and rest of circuit exercises and
neuromuscular activities.
Conclusion
In this study, results showed that the circuit training
with the combinations of neuromuscular activities
conveyed positive eects on the improvement of
muscular endurance and reduction of body composition.
It improves the health tness components and helped in
the prevention of lifestyle diseases in school students.
The present training protocols very much benecial
for school going children for the anatomical adaptation.
Once children well developed in the anatomical
adaptations, it leads to the better improvement of health
and skill related components of physical tness. Future
studies may be attempted in this area with other training
parameters.
Conict of Interest: Nil
Source of Funding: Dr. D. Maniazhagu thank for
the nancial support of MHRD-UGC, RUSA-Phase 2.0
grant No. F, 24-5/2014-U, Policy (TN Multi-Gen), Dept.
of. Education. Government of India, dt 09.10.2018.
Ethical Clearance: The Departmental Research
Committee of the Department of Physical Education,
Alagappa University approved the study protocol.
References
1. Hallal PC, Victora CG, Azevedo MR, Wells
JC. Adolescent physical activity and health: a
systematic review. Sports Med 2006; 36: 1019–
1030.
2. Rennie KL, Wells JC, McCarey TA, Livingstone
MB. The eect of physical activity on body fatness
in children and adolescents. Proc Nutr Soc 2006;
65: 393–402.
3. Must A, Tybor DJ. Physical activity and sedentary
behavior: a review of longitudinal studies of weight
and adiposity in youth. Int J Obes (Lond) 2005; 29
(Suppl 2): S84–S96.
4. Hills AP, King NA, Armstrong TP. The contribution
of physical activity and sedentary behaviors to
the growth and development of children and
adolescents: implications for overweight and
obesity. Sports Med 2007; 37: 533–545.
5. Froberg K, Andersen LB. Mini review: physical
activity and tness and its relations to cardiovascular
disease risk factors in children. Int J Obes (Lond)
2005; 29 (Suppl 2): S34–S39.
6. Vicente-Rodriguez G. How does exercise aect

34 Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, December 2019, Vol. 10, No. 12
bone development during growth? Sports Med
2006; 36: 561–569.
7. Ortega FB, Ruiz JR, Castillo MJ, Sjöström M .
Physical tness in childhood and adolescence: A
powerful marker of health. Int J Obesity. 2008; 32 :
1–11
8. Bouchard C, Shephard RJ: Physical activity, tness
and health: the model key concepts; Champaign,
Human Kinetics, 1994, pp 77-88
9. Department of Health and Human Services.
Healthy people 2000: National health promotion
and disease prevention objectives. Washington, DC
: DHHS Publ No (PHS); 1990. 91-50212
10. Donnelly J, Greene J, Gibson C, Smith B,
Washburn R, Sullivan D, DuBose K, Mayo MS,
Schmelzle KH, Ryan JJ, Jacobsen DJ, Williams SL
. Physical activity across the curriculum (PAAC):
A randomized controlled trial to promote physical
activity and diminish overweight and obesity in
elementary school children . Prev Med. 2009; 49 :
336–34
11. Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia. Royal decree
1513/2006, the 7th December, laying down the
Curriculum for Primary Education. Madrid, Spain:
Government Gazette; 2006. pp. 43053–43102
12. Dorgo S, King GA, Candelaria NG, Bader JO,
Brickey GD, Adams CE. Eects of manual
resistance training on tness in adolescents. J
Strength Cond Res. 2009; 23 : 2287–2294
13. Granacher U, Goesele A, Roggo K, Wischer T,
Fischer S, Zuerny C, Gollhofer A, Kriemler S .
Eects and mechanisms of strength training in
children. Int J Sports Med. 2011a; 32: 357–364
14. Granacher U, Muehlbauer T, Doeringer B,
Strohmeier R, Gollhofer A . Promoting strength and
balance in adolescents during physical education:
Eects of a short-term resistance training. J
Strength Cond Res. 2011; 25: 940–949.
15. Alcaraz Ramón PE, Sánchez-Lorente J, Blazevich
AJ . Physical performance and cardiovascular
responses to an acute bout of heavy resistance
circuit training versus traditional strength training.
J Strength Cond Res. 2008; 22: 667–671.
16. Lozano L, Viciana J, Martínez JC, Cocca A,
Jiménez R. Inuence of classroom environment and
motor engagement time. Rev Mex Psicol. 2009; 26:
675–676.
17. Wong PCH, Chia MYH, Tsou IYY, Wang saicheong
GKL, Tan B, Wang JCK, Tan J, Kim C, Boh G,
Lim D . Eects of a 12-week exercise training
programme on aerobic tness, body composition,
blood lipids and C-reactive protein in adolescents
with obesity. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2008; 37:
286–293.
18. Debbie Lawrence, Richard (Bob) Hope (2015). The
Complete Guide to Circuit Training. A & amp;C
Black Publisher.
19. Lee E. Brown (2007). Strength training. National
Strength and Conditioning Association. Human
Kinetics
20. Buddy Lee (2010). Jump rope training Champaign
IL, Human Kinetics.
21. Smith-Ryan AE, Trexler ET, Wingeld HL, Blue
MN. Eects of high-intensity interval training on
cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight/obese
women. J Sports Sci 2016; 34:2038-2046
22. Daniel Mayorga-Vega, Jesus Viciana, Armando
Cocca. Eects of a Circuit Training Program on
Muscular and Cardiovascular Endurance and
their Maintenance in Schoolchildren. Journal of
Human Kinetics. 2013; 37: 153-160. DOI:10.2478/
hukin-2013-0036
23. Moktar Chtara, Anis Chaouachi, Gregory T. Levin,
Mustapha Chaouachi, Karim Chamari, Mohamed
Amri and Paul B. Laursen. Eect of concurrent
endurance and circuit resistance training sequence
on muscular strength and power development.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
2008; 22(4):1037–1045.
24. Danilo Sales Bocalini, Lucas S Lima,Socrates
de Andrade, Angelo Madureira, Roberta L
Rica,Rodrigo Nolasco dos Santos, Andrey
Jorge Serra,Jose Antonio Silva, Jr, Daniel
Rodriguez,Aylton Figueira, Jr and Francisco
Luciano Pontes, Jr. Eects of circuit-based exercise
programs on the body composition of elderly obese
women. Clin Interv Aging. 2012; 7: 551–556.doi:
10.2147/CIA.S33893
25. Yilmaz Ucan. Eects of Circuit Resistance Training
on Body Composition and Bone Status in Young
Males. The Sport Journal. 2014; 21
26. Hyun-Joo Kang, Yang Sun Lee, Doo-Soon Park,
Duk-Ho Kang. Eects of 12-week circuit weight
training and aerobic exercise on body composition,
physical tness, and pulse wave velocity in obese
collegiate women Soft Computing. 2012; 16
(3):403-410. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00500-011