Efficiency of functional training programme on muscle strength changes of police academy male students

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate effects of twelve-week period functional training on the strength of participants during the Specialized Physical Education (SPE) teaching. Fifty-one participants - first-year students of basic academic studies of Academy of Criminalistic and Police Studies (ACPS) from Belgrade participated in the research: Age = 19.41±0.57 years; BH = 182.0 9±6.63 cm; BW = 80.65±8.42 kg; BMI = 24.29±1.88 kg∙m-2. Students were divided into two groups: experimental (28 students, BH=182.87±7. 14 cm, BW=81.66±8.26 kg, BMI=24.39±1.72 kg∙m-2) and the control group (23 students, BH=181.14±5.97 cm, BW=79.41±8.63 kg, BMI=24.18±2.10 kg∙m-2), respectively. The experimental group had been applying functional training for strength development at classes of SPE, twice a week, not longer than 20 minutes per class, while the control group had been using the traditional way of training, which consists of the repetitive training method, according to the regular curriculum. In the scope of the functional training, the emphasis of exercises was on strengthening and maintaining musculature of the dorsal - lumbar extensors, back extensors, arm extensors, arm flexors, torso flexors, leg extensors, dominant and nondominant hand flexors. 13 variables were samples of variables for estimating the strengths (9 variables of basic motor status - BMS and 4 variables, derived measures), as an integral part of the battery tests for BMS assessment of students of ACPS were used: isometric dead-lift test, absolute and relative value (FMAXBE, FRELBE), maximal strength of leg extensors, absolute and relative value (FMAXLE, FRELLE), dominant and nondominant hand grip, absolute and relative value (FMAXHGD, FRELHGD, FMAXHGND, FRELHGND), vertical jump - Abalak (VJ), standing long jump (LJ), sit-ups 30 seconds with rotation (ABD), pull-ups (PULL), push-ups 10 seconds (PU). For determining effects of functional training, as experimental programme, between the achieved results in variables for assessment the strength at initial and final measuring, Multivariate analysis of covariance was used - MANCOVA, generally, and Univariate analysis of covariance - ANCOVA, individually per variables. Results of MANCOVA showed that there are no statistically significant differences between the experimental and control group (Wilks' Lambda=0.621; F(13,24)=1.125; p=0.386). Results of ANCOVA showed that only in variable PULL, there are statistically significant differences in the effects achieved between two groups in the sense of significant increase of participants in the experimental group compared to the control group (F=9.140; r=0.005). It can be concluded that the experimental programme caused a statistically significant positive effect on repetitive hand flexor muscle strength.