A Comparative Study of Physique and Performance Measures Resulting from a Short-Term Physical Fitness Course

Abstract

Cardiorespiratory and anthropometric assessments were made on 95 randomly selected young college males enrolled in three physical fitness sections and one tennis course, each lasting eight weeks. Laboratory and field measures were utilized to report and evaluate changes in functional fitness and physique variables, including nine selected fat and girth measurements, height and weight, timed vital capacity, Harvard Step Test, grip strength, mile run time, and vertical jump. Analysis of the data yielded the following conclusions: (a) Eight weeks of physical fitness training can produce significant improvements in physique and circulorespiratory characteristics; (b) A skill-oriented tennis class demonstrates no significant physical improvements; (c) Body weight can be increased while body fat is lost; (d) Vital capacity has little value in reflecting levels of physical performance; (e) Specificity of a physical fitness program will influence its outcome.