The effect of basic strength exercises on the development of physical attributes in students

Abstract

Modern research in physical training shows increasing interest in optimizing training methods, particularly regarding the use of basic strength exercises. Although these exercises are widely applied in sports practice, their complex impact on various physical qualities remains insufficiently explored. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a training program incorporating basic strength exercises (squats, bench press, deadlift) on the development of physical qualities in students, compared to a traditional general physical training program. Materials and methods. The study involved 120 students over 24 weeks, divided into a control group (CG, n = 60) and an experimental group (EG, n = 60). The main evaluation methods were: determining the maximum strength in basic exercises and the Cooper test. Students in CG were engaged in physical education according to the traditional curriculum twice a week for 90 minutes. Students in EG also trained twice a week for 90 minutes, but the content of the training sessions was modified according to the type of sports training in strength athletics. The EG program was based on three basic strength exercises from this sport: back squats, bench press, and deadlift (classic version). Results. Students in EG demonstrated significantly greater (p < 0.001) gains in performance: maximum strength increased by 19–21%, aerobic endurance – by 17.3% versus 7– 8% and 7.2% in the control group, respectively. The effect size of the training program modification was d = 1.24–2.12 for different tests. The results confirm the hypothesis about the advantage of a combined training method. Of particular interest is the identified transfer of training – improvement in aerobic performance during strength-oriented training, which is consistent with modern concepts of systemic adaptation of the body to various types of physical activity. Conclusions. Inclusion of basic strength exercises in the educational process leads to a comprehensive improvement in the physical qualities of students and can be recommended for optimizing physical education programs. A promising direction for further research is to study the effect of the proposed methodology on a long-term time interval.