Characterization of the Muscular Strength Increase in University Students

Abstract

The development of muscle strength is an essential factor for the maintenance of health that brings benefits such as: postural correction, decreased risk of musculoskeletal injuries, increased bone mass, increased metabolic usage and blood circulation improvement. PURPOSE: This study has the objective of proving the evolution of Muscular Strength (MS) upon the application of maximal tests on and programmed training sessions for the students of the Physical Activity and Sports elective courses at the Pontifical Xavierian University in Bogota D.C, Colombia. METHODS: Descriptive quantitative study upon the application of ACSM assessment methods for maximum strength (2014): Upper Body Strength (UBS); Leg Press (LP); Push-Up (PU) and Curl-Up (CU). The total population subject to the study was N=344, aged 24.5 ± 7.5 years. The sample worked on was n=163 students corresponding to 47% of the analyzed population, being n=72 (44.2%) females and n=91 (55.8%) males, which passed the sample validation of 95% of the students tested (p<0.05). The students performed a total of 40 hours of training of (MS) within a period of 8 weeks, divided into 24 class sessions (8 supervised and 16 autonomous) using four (4) different (MS) training METHODS: German, Compound Series, Pyramid and Ladder. RESULTS: The evolution of (MS) within the general average of (LP) showed a superior increase of 20 pounds (8%). In relation to (UBS), the improvement is greater than 10 pounds (21%). Regarding (CU), there was a higher abdominal strength after 10 repetitions (22%) and (PU) generated increase after 12 repetitions (27%). The data obtained from the tests applied reflect that the evolution of (MS) in the context of training of beginners coincides with the increase of 20% with the evidence of 21% in the case of the women and 19% in the case of men. CONCLUSION: It was proved that the increase in (MS) indexes was originated by the increase of the frequency in the practice and the structuring and progression of the sessions. These considerations sustain that the increase in (MS) is a significant component for the maintenance of health since this brings benefits that enhance the functional capacity, neuromotor control and lipid profile of people.