EFFECTS OF 8 WEEKS OF ECCENTRIC TRAINING ON HAMSTRING FLEXIBILITY AND MUSCULAR PERFORMANCE AMONG HEALTHY OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE WOMEN

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: This study was carried out to investigate the effects of 8 weeks of eccentric training on hamstring flexibility and muscular performance among healthy overweight and obese females.

Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy overweight and obese females (N = 20) were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: exercise group (n = 10; age = 40.1 ± 5.4 years; BMI = 33.3 ± 4.9 kg/m²) and control group (n = 10; age = 44.3 ± 6.9 years; BMI = 29.0 ± 4.0 kg/m²). This experimental study use comparative analysis of pre and post-training. During both pre and post-training, passive 90°/90° test (hamstring flexibility), vertical jump test (muscle power) and squat test (muscle strength) were carried out. Participants in the exercise group performed eccentric training using thera-band on both legs three times per week for eight weeks while participants in the control group did not perform any exercise. Data analysis was carried out using paired and independent t test to measure significant differences between groups and within group.

Result: The exercise group showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in both left and right hamstring flexibility after the eight weeks of intervention. However, muscle strength and power did not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by the eccentric training.

Conclusion: Eccentric training has beneficial effects on flexibility by increasing the range of motion of a joint. However, the present study fails to show significant benefits of eccentric training on muscles strength and power. Longer exercise training period might induce significant improvements in both muscle strength and power.

Keywords: Exercise, range of motion, knee joint, resistance band, muscle power, muscle strength