High-Intensity Aerobic Training During a 10 Week One-Hour Physical Education Cycle : Effects on Physical Fitness of Adolescents Aged 11 to 16

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of a high-intensity aerobic training program on different components of physical fitness in adolescents aged 11 to 16 years. The subjects were divided into a high intensity (HI) group (243 girls and 260 boys) and a control (C) group (21 girls and 27 boys). HI and C completed a weekly 3 hour physical education (PE) session. Before and after a 10-week period, the two groups performed the European physical fitness test battery (EUROFIT). During these 10 weeks HI spent one hour out of three at a specific PE session. These specific sessions consisted of short intermittent exercises (10 seconds) at 100 to 120 % of maximal aerobic speed. They showed a significant influence on standing broad jump (2.9 %, P < 0.05, F = 4.85), 20 meter shuttle run (3.8 %, p < 0.001, F = 23.21) and on the maximal distance covered over 7 min (7.6 %, P < 0.001, F = 14.48). For C there was no improvement in EUROFIT performances. It was concluded that training at high intensity improves not only children’s aerobic fitness but also performance of standing broad jump. Well-monitored, adequate intensive training is necessary for a more desirable functional development.