Fitness changes of Naval women following aerobic based programs featuring calisthenic or circuit weight training exercises.

Two research investigations were undertaken to determine the effects of experimental aerobic/circuit weight training (A/CWT) and standard Navy aerobic/calisthenic (A/CAL) training on fitness parameters. Study I Subjects were 22 female officer and enlisted personnel aged 24 to 34 years (mean = 28.2). The women followed a 10-week A/CWT program working at an intensity of 60% of determined one repetition maximum (1RM). These women showed significant (p less than 0.05) improvements in dynamic muscular strength, muscular endurance, and stamina. Only upper torso static strength was unaffected by training. Study II Participants were 115 female recruits aged 17 to 34 years (mean = 20.4). They were randomly assigned to one of three training groups: 1) aerobic/calisthenic training (A/CAL) (N = 58); 2) aerobic/circuit weight training at 40% (A/CWT-40) of maximum strength determined for a single repetition (1RM) of the lifting exercises (N = 26); and 3) aerobic/circuit weight training at 70% (A/CWT-70) of determined 1RM (N = 30). Results showed that standard recruit A/CAL training did not significantly (p less than 0.05) enhance upper torso dynamic strength (except the lat-pulldown test) or stamina. A/CWT-70 elicited significantly (p less than 0.05) higher gains in several tests of upper torso strength than A/CAL or A/CWT-40. These results suggest that A/CWT offers a way to develop the required upper torso strength of Navy women.