1. The effects of two different neuromuscular training programs on physical fitness parameters of prepubertal girls.
Moustogiannis A., Philippou A. and Maridaki, M.
Department of Expiremental Physiology,
School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece
INTRODUCTION
Various combinations of exercise types and strength training methods have been proven to be effective for developing muscle strength in prepubertal children. Neuromuscular training is a method to improve physical fitness parameters that play an important role in the athletic performance of gymnasts.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of two neuromuscular training programs, i.e., a) vibration and b) suspension, on the physical performance of prepubertal gymnasts.
Two-way ANOVA for repeated measures with Tukey’s post hoc tests were used for statistics (P<0.05).
RESULTS
Body mass index did not differ between the groups, or over the training period (p= ). Upper limb strength increased significantly compared with control (C2 vs. V2; p<0.01, C3 vs. V3; p<0.001) and over time (S1 vs. S2, S1 vs. S3, S2 vs. S3, V1 vs. V2, V1 vs. V3, V2 vs. V3; p<0.01). Lower limb strength was also increased compared with control (C3 vs. S3, C3 vs. V3; p<0.001) and over time (S1 vs. S2, S1 vs. S3; p<0.001, S2 vs. S3; p<0.01, V1 vs. V2, V1 vs. V3; p<0.001). Similarly, agility was improved in the training groups (C2 vs. S2, C2 vs. V2, C3 vs. S3, C3 vs. V3; p<0.001) and over time (S1 vs. S2, S1 vs. S3, V1 vs. V2, V1 vs. V3; p<0.01). Finally, balance was significantly improved for both legs over time (right: S1 vs. S3, V1 vs. V3, left: C1 vs. C3, V1 vs. V3; p<0.05, S1 vs. S2; p<0.01, S1 vs. S3; p<0.001) but not between the groups.
Fig. 3 Changes in Jumps Repeated testing after 4 and 8 weeks of training vibration (vibration) or float position (suspension) compared with the values before training (baseline), and between groups (control, vibration, suspension) after 4 and 8 weeks of training (Mean + SD '*: p <0.05, **: p <0.01, ***: p <0.001).
METHODS
Thirty amateur female gymnasts (age: 11±1.1 yrs and Tanner stage II and III), participated in this study. They were divided into three groups: [the Vibration group (V), n=11, the Suspension group (S), n=11, and the Control group (C), n=8). The Vibration and Suspension exercise training lasted eight weeks (3 training sessions per week) and was included in the regular gymnastics training, while the control group followed only regular gymnastics training. Measurements of upper limb strength (push up test), lower limb strength (repeated jumps), agility (T-test) and balance (flamingo test) were performed at baseline (measurement #1), after four wks (measurement #2) and eight wks (measurement #3) of training.
Fig. 4 Changes in agility test after 4 and 8 weeks of training vibration or suspension compared with the values before training (baseline), and between groups (control, vibration, suspension) after 4 and 8 weeks of training (Mean + SD '*: p <0.05, **: p <0.01, ***: p <0.001).
Fig. 5 Changes in test Push up after 4 and 8 weeks of training vibration (vibration) or float position (suspension) compared with the values before training (baseline), and between groups (control, vibration, suspension) after 4 and 8 weeks of training (Mean + SD '*: p <0.05, **: p <0.01, ***: p <0.001).
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate that both neuromuscular training protocols are equally effective in improving parameters of physical fitness to a higher degree than regular training in prepubertal gymnasts.
Fig. 2 Changes in balance test on the right leg after 4 and 8 weeks vibration training (vibration) or suspending position (suspension) in comparison with the values before training (baseline), (Mean + SD '*: p <0.05, **: p <0.01, ***: p <0.001).
Fig. 1 Changes balance test in the right leg after 4 and 8 weeks training vibration (vibration) or suspending position (suspension) in comparison with the values before training (baseline), (Mean + SD '*: p <0.05, **: p <0.01, ***: p <0.001).