The effects of three generalized resistance training programs on functional lifing strength in women

Graduation Date

2008

Document Type

Thesis

Program

Other

Program

Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, Kinesiology: Teaching/Coaching, 2008

Committee Chair Name

Tina M. Manos

Committee Chair Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Keywords

Resistance training, Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Kinesiology, Functional lifting strength

Abstract

In the workplace, women are increasingly being expected to perform similar physical tasks as men, which may be a disadvantage in physically demanding jobs. On average, women have 55.8% of the upper-body strength and 71.9% of the lower-body strength as compared to men (Laubach, 1976). Despite these differences, few studies have been conducted on the effects of different generalized resistance training programs on functional lifting strength in women. PURPOSE: To compare the effects of three generalized resistance training programs on functional lifting strength in untrained college-aged women. METHODS: Twenty-five untrained women (66.2 ± 11.8 kg; 165 ± 7.0 cm) were matched for strength and randomly assigned to either an upper-body (UB, n = 7), lower-body (LB, n = 9), or total-body (TB, n = 9) training group. For 12 weeks, the women trained twice a week for no longer than 50 minutes each workout. Functional lifting strength was measured using a multiple-RM box lift in order to estimate 1-RM box lift scores. The multiple-RM box lift was from the ground to a chest-height shelf and was administered pre- and post-training. Pre-training, 1-RM box lift scores were not significantly different among training groups. RESULTS: All groups increased their 1-RM box lift scores from pre- to post-training (p .05). The UB group experienced a greater increase in 1-RM box lift scores compared to the LB and TB groups (p .05). The increases observed for the LB and TB groups were not significantly different from each other. CONCLUSIONS: Although UB, LB, and TB generalized resistance training programs improved 1-RM box lift scores in women, an UB program increased scores to a greater extent than LB or TB programs. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: These results suggest that an UB generalized resistance training program is more effective than a LB or TB program for increasing functional lifting strength in untrained women.

https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/6d56zz91f

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