Effects of Aerobic Super Circuit Training Versus Heavy Resistance Training on Health Related Physical Fitness

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a twelve week Aerobic Super Circuit program compared to heavy resistance training on five health related components of physical fitness. Three days per week, twenty-five physical therapist assistant students, aged 19 to 50, participated in the Aerobic Super Circuit (ASC) program while eleven personal wellness students, aged 18 to 37 participated in the heavy resistance training program (HRT). The study consisted of one experimental group of participants in the ASC and one control group of participants in the HRT. Both groups were pretested and post-tested using the following tests: 1) sum of skinfolds for body composition; 2) 1 repetition maximum bench and leg press for upper body and lower body muscular strength; 3) 20 meter shuttle run for cardiovascular endurance: 4) curl ups for muscular endurance; and 5) sit and reach for flexibility . The ASC used weight training in a circuit format with bicycling on Monarch ergometers interspersed between resistance stations. The HRT used three sets of 10 repetitions on each weight machine. Results from an ANCOVA suggested a significant difference between the effects of a twelve week ASC training compared to heavy resistance training on body composition, upper body muscular strength and flexibility. Results from an ANCOVA suggested no significant difference between the effects of a twelve week ASC training compared to HRT on lower body muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, and muscular endurance