Changes in Physical Abilities of Adult Women Related to Participation Frequency in Organized Exercise Programs

Konstanatinos Arampatzoglou,Maria Michalopoulou, Panagiotis Antoniou,Vasilis Gourgoulis,& Konstantinos Volaklis

Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences,

Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Hellas

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the changes on fitness profile of adult women based on the frequency of participation in organized fitness programs during the last 12 months. Forty eight healthy women (aged 25.7 ± 7.4) participated in organized programs exercise in private athletic center. The assessment procedure included tests of muscular strength of the upper and lower body, endurance and flexibility and where performed 3 times during the year. The subjects based on the frequency of participation were assigned to 3 groups: low (LF), moderate (MF) and high frequency (HF) of participation. The physical abilities of the subjects in the MF and HF groups increased significantly (p<.05) during the periods of exercise on contrast with LF group (p>.05). Further more the maintenance after the summer of the improvement at all physical abilities was observed only for the HF group except the strength of the upper body break. The results indicated that the maintenance of adaptations in physical abilities (strength, endurance, flexibility) was observed only for the sub- jects in the HF group that participated at least two times per week.

Key words: physical abilities, adult women, organized exercise programs.