Pedagogy and Psychology of Sport (Dec 2019)
Effects of fitness programs with aquatics elements on physical condition of 16-17 year-old males
Abstract
The article identifies the impact of an aquatics fitness program on the physical condition of 16-17-year-old males. Objective. The study was aimed at assessing the effects of the fitness program with aquatics elements on physical condition of 16-17 year-old males. Methods and organization of the study. The following methods were used: analysis and generalization of special scientific and methodological literature; pedagogical, sociological, anthropometric, and physiological methods; and the methods of mathematical statistics. To assess physical health, Apanasenko’s method for somatic health express assessment was used. The level of physical fitness of young men was assessed according to the Krutsevich’s method. The Ruffier, Robinson, Skibinsky, Stange, and Genche indices were used to assess the functional status of the cardiorespiratory system. The program lasted for 9 months with workouts done three times a week. The program included three stages: preparatory (10-12 weeks), main (16-18 weeks), and final (14-16 weeks) ones. The study involved 48 males aged 16-17 years. Results of the study. After the experiment, significant (p <0.05) changes were found in the morpho-functional status of 16-year-old men including body weight, heart rate, lung vital capacity, Stange and Genche tests, Ruffier, Skibinsky, and Robinson indices, and vital capacity-to-body weight ratio. In 17-year-old men, the changes in Robinson, Skibinsky, and Quetelet indices, as well as in wrist dynamometry and strength index were found. The results of Ruffier test indicated improvements in physical performance and physical fitness of young men. The physical health of most young men aged 16-17 was improved to the ‘safe’ level. Conclusions. The effectiveness of the aquatics program was proved. Significant changes were found to occur in the following indicators of physical condition of young men: physical fitness, physical health, work capacity, and morphofunctional condition.
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