The Effects of a Set Circuit Weight Training Program on Strength and Muscular Endurance of College Age Men

Numerous studies have been conducted on various weight training systems and their effects upon strength, muscular endurance and cardiovascular endurance. These studies and the resulting programs formulated from them are of special concern to the athletes and their coaches. Of particular concern is the in-season weight training program designed for maintenance of strength and increased muscular endurance. It is the purpose of this investigation to study the effects on strength and muscular endurance of one specific weight training program, hereafter called the set circuit program. Unlike a regular circuit program, the set circuit program requires all sets of an exercise to be completed before the subject moves to the next activity. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of a set circuit weight training program on strength and muscular endurance of college age men. Participants in the study were 42 male college age students enrolled in weight training classes at South Dakota State University in the fall semester of 1979. All subjects were assigned the set circuit training program. Training sessions were held two days a week continuing for seven successive weeks. A strength pre-test was given to determine one repetition maximum strength (1 RM) in the bench press and leg press exercises. An endurance pre-test followed measuring absolute muscular endurance using a modified version of Holeth’s test for muscular endurance. The pre-tests were repeated on the following day of training to determine reliability. Post-tests were given following the treatment to measure 1 RM strength, absolute muscular endurance and relative muscular endurance in the bench press and leg press exercises. Post-tests were repeated on the following day of training to determine reliability