Effect of aquatic aerobic exercise on physical performance in Naresuan University students with class 1 obesity
Keywords:
Aquatic exercise, Class 1 obesity, Physical performance, Body compositionAbstract
The study aimed to evaluate the effects of aquatic exercise on body compositions and physical performances among 14 students at Naresuan University aged 20-24 years with obesity level 1. Participants were randomized into experimental (n = 6) and control (n = 8) groups. The experimental group received a moderate-intensity aquatic exercise program for 50 minutes per session, 3 times per week, for 6 weeks, while the control group did not exercise. Body composition measurements included body weight, Body Mass Index, body fat percentage, and waist circumference. Physical performance assessments included muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, and lung capacity, measured before and after the exercise program. The differences between groups were analyzed using an independent sample t-test, and within-group differences were analyzed using a paired t-test.
After the exercise program, no significant differences were found in body composition between the groups. However, significant differences were observed in leg muscle strength and endurance at the level 0.05 between groups. Within the experimental group, there were significant differences in waist circumference, lung capacity, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance at the level 0.05. These findings suggest that aquatic exercise may have a positive effect on leg muscle strength and endurance. However, a 6-week exercise duration may not be sufficient to induce changes in body composition. A longer exercise period is recommended to observe noticeable changes.
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