Effects of 8 Weeks Conditioning Exercises on Muscular Endurance: A Cross-Sectional Study of Female Cadets of Ghana Immigration Service Academy, Assin Fosu, Ghana

Abstract

Physical conditioning enables athletes to meet all the physical requirements of their sport, perform well, and minimize their risk of injury. This study aims to determine the effects of eight (8) weeks conditioning training on the muscular endurance of Female Cadets of the Ghana Immigration Service Academy. The Army Physical Training Fitness Test (APFT) was used to evaluate muscular endurance levels of the Female Cadets. The quasi-experimental pre-test post-test study design was used to conduct the study. A total of 60 female cadets were randomly stratified into two groups based on APFT age categories (22-26) and (27-31) years. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired sample t-test and independent sample t-test was used to test the hypothesis. Higher upper body muscular endurance performance as measured by the APFT was observed in the age group (27-31) years compared to age group (22-26) years. Significant difference was found in muscular endurance in the females age groups (22-26) and (27-31) years (P<0.05). Significant positive effect on muscular endurance after conditioning exercises for female Cadets in both age categories, (22-26) and (27-31) years (P<0.05) was observed. Conditioning exercises had a significant impact on APFT upper body muscular endurance performance in the age categories of (22-26) and (27-31) years.