Effects of 12 weeks of short-duration isometric strength training in university students

Abstract

Purpose: Isometric strength training has the advantage of improving musculoskeletal properties, neuromuscular function and health biomarkers compared with dynamic strength training. This study aimed to analyze the effects of short-term isometric strength training on pain, body composition, and biomarkers of health in young adults. Methods: This was a pre-post experimental study with isometric training period. The training period was carried out for 12 weeks with a single session per week, with a weekly training volume of 6 minutes. The study sample consisted of 22 students (20.5 years ± 1.37) of both sexes (15 males and 7 females). The maximum isometric force test (in Newton meters) using the MedX lumbar extension and knee extension machines. The InBody 770 were used for body composition analysis, visual analog scale for pain and glycated hemoglobin values were measured using the Quo-Lab. Results: Analysis of changes in pain showed a significant improvement in hip pain in the entire group (p≤0.05), with no other significant changes observed in the other pain scales (0.05), phase angle (0.02), glycated haemoglobin (0.00) and lumbar strength (<0.05) measured or segregating the sample by sex. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that a short duration strength training intervention can help to improve pain at anatomical points, reduce HbA1c levels, finding trends for improvement in numerous body composition variables. Highlighting the significant change in phase angle, a variable with a promising approach in the more accurate and comprehensive study of both body composition and metabolic health.

Keywords

• Young adults
• isometric training
• phase angle
• pain
• HbA1c