The effect of 12-week step aerobic training on certain physical parameters in girls aged 7–12

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of 12-week step aerobics training on certain physical parameters of girls aged 8–12. A total of 132 children aged 8–12 participated in the study, including 66 in the experimental group and 66 in the control group. While the experimental group underwent 12 weeks of step aerobics training, no exercise or training program was applied to the control group. Data related to measurements taken before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the step aerobics training-height, weight, sit-and-reach flexibility test, vertical jump, standing long jump-were collected using valid measurement techniques. For the statistical analysis of the research data, the SPSS program was used. Mean values and standard errors of all participants’ parameters were calculated, and paired “t” tests were used to determine differences between the two measurement times, while independent (unpaired) “t” tests were conducted to determine group differences. The Shapiro–Wilk technique was applied to test whether the measurements followed a normal distribution. As a result, a significant difference was found in the pretest and posttest height, standing broad jump, vertical jump, and left-right and double-foot flexibility test measurements of the experimental group following 12 weeks of aerobic step training. A comparison of the pretest and posttest values ​​of the control group also revealed a significant difference in height, vertical jump, and right-hand flexibility. In addition, in the comparison of the pretest-posttest measurement values ​​of the two groups, it was found that there was no significant difference in both measurements between height, weight, standing long jump and left flexibility measurements, but there was a significant difference in the posttest values ​​between vertical jump, right and double flexibility measurements.