Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Education & Sports Science,
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Athanasios Zakas, PhD., Department
of Physical Education & Sports Science, Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 540 06, Greece. Fax: +30 2310 992211; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether cycle
training offers an effective means for improving muscle strength in young
people, as strength training has been recognized as safe and effective in
improving muscle strength. Nineteen 13-year-old and eighteen 16-year-old boys
formed the training group, while the control group was formed by eighteen
13-year-old and twenty 16-year-old boys. Participants took part in a
strength-training program involving cycle training 3 times per week for a
period of 12 weeks, whereas controls participated only in the school's physical
education activities. Maximum knee extension and flexion was evaluated at
various angular velocities, as well as local muscular endurance of extensors
using an isokinetic dynamometer. With regard to the training group, significant
increases (p<0.001) were observed for both extensors and flexors in all
angular velocities, as well as for local muscular endurance of extensors, for
both age groups (p<0.001). However, for the control group significant
increases were observed only in high angular velocities
(180°·s^{-1},
300°·s^{-1}) (p<0.05 to p<0.001) in both
age groups. The findings suggest that the specific cycle training protocol used
in this study is an effective means for improving muscle strength training and
local muscular endurance in pubescent and postpubescent untrained males.
