The effect of high-intensity circuit training on physical fitness in healthy young males

Abstract

Sedentism, along with a lack of physical activity, contributes to a decline in quality of life and is the fourth greatest cause of mortality. Changing sedentary lifestyle choices, such as increased physical exercise, is a method of health problem prevention. As a result, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of high-intensity circuit training on developing physical fitness in young healthy guys. A proper experimental procedure was employed in this investigation, including a pre-test - post-test control group design. Twenty Malang City students aged 19 to 22 were selected and separated into CNTL (control group) and HICT (high-intensity circuit training group). The high-intensity circuit training (HICT) intervention was performed three times per week for eight weeks. Physical fitness (VO2max, strength, speed, and agility) was assessed pre- and post-intervention. An independent sample t-test with a significance threshold of 5% is used in the data analysis procedure. The findings revealed a delta (∆) difference in the average gain in physical fitness (VO2max, strength, speed, and agility) between CNTL and HICT (p ≤ 0.01). This study shows that high-intensity circuit training done three times per week for eight weeks improves physical fitness in healthy young males. Keywords: Healthy male; high-intensity circuit training; physical fitness; sedentary lifestyle