Use of Aerobic Dance and Light Weights in Improving Selected Measures of Strength, Endurance, and Flexibility

Abstract

Many individuals have limited time to participate in conditioning programs so it is important that time spent exercising be used efficiently. When lack of time is a problem in a conditioning program, could the addition of weights be an effective solution? The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of 1-b. weights on various measures of strength, endurance and flexibility of college women who participated in a 10-wk. aerobic dance program. Two intact groups of 19 each, from two-day-a-week aerobic dance classes, were used as experimental groups. The aerobic only group followed the typical aerobic dance format while the aerobic with weights group performed the aerobic part of the program holding a 1-b. weight in each hand. Analysis of covariance using the pretest as a covariant except when assumptions were violated and appropriate alternative methods were used, significant differences were observed on four of the six variables on which the aerobic with weights group excelled.