ORIGINAL ARTICLE  EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2024 June;64(6):516-25

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.24.15707-6

Copyright © 2024 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Effects of 16-week circuit training on physical fitness parameters, pulmonary function, and quality of life in healthy women

Seyda TOPRAK CELENAY ¹, Erhan SECER ² ✉, Derya OZER KAYA ^{3, 4}

¹ Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Türkiye; ² Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Türkiye; ³ Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Türkiye; ⁴ Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Research and Application Center, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Türkiye

BACKGROUND: Circuit training (CT) is an important type of training that can combine different types of exercises in a single form of training. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 16-week CT on physical fitness parameters, pulmonary function, and quality of life in healthy women.
METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy women (median age: 37.00 [31.50/39.50] years) were included in the study. CT was applied to the participants for a total of 16 weeks. Participants’ body composition with the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis System, knee flexor and extensor muscle strength with the Biodex System-4 Pro, flexibility with the sit-and-reach test, pulmonary function with a spirometer device, and quality of life with Short Form-36 were assessed.
RESULTS: A significant difference was found between the participants’ pretest and posttest median and interquartile range values of waist-hip ratio, body mass index, right/left knee flexor/extensor mean peak torque (60°/s,180°/s), right hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) ratio (60°/s), flexibility, and SF-36 Mental Health Score (P˂0.050). There was no significant difference between the participants’ pretest and posttest median and interquartile range values of total body fat, fat percentage, right H/Q ratio (180°/s), left H/Q ratio (60°/s,180°/s), pulmonary function, and Short Form-36 Physical Function Score (P˃0.050).
CONCLUSIONS: CT decreased waist-hip ratio and body mass index, increased knee flexor/extensor strength and flexibility, and improved mental health. The 16-week CT may be an alternative approach to improve physical fitness parameters and mental health without any positive effects on body fat and pulmonary functions in healthy women.

KEY WORDS: Body composition; Circuit-based exercise; Articular range of motion; Muscle strength; Women’s health