Effects of Three Training Methods on the Physical Fitness in Adult Cameroonian Boxers

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate three training methods on the physical capacity of Cameroonians boxers in other to propose the best method for their preparation. Thus, thirty-six boxers aged twenty-three to twenty-six were recruited and divided into three groups of twelve boxers each. They were submitted to training session for eight weeks using the continuous method, the intermittent method and the mixed method for group one, two and three respectively. Anthropometric (weight, height and Body Mass Index (BMI)) and physiological (Maximal Oxygen Consumption (VO₂max), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), Blood Glucose Levels (BGL) and Blood Lactic Acid concentrations (BLA)) parameters were measured before and after the training session program. Results at the end of the program showed no significant variation of Blood Glucose Level of boxers between the three groups as well as inside the same group (p>0.05). On the other hand, significant differences (p<0.05-p<0.001) in weight, BMI, SBP, DBP, VO₂max and Blood Lactic Acid concentrations were observed. Indeed, weight, BMI, SBP and DBP decreased significantly (p<0.05-p<0.001), while VO₂max increased significantly in the three experimental groups (p<0.05-p<0.001). The analysis of these results reveals that the group having practiced the mixed training method showed the strongest rates of increase in VO₂max (67.8±5.00 ml/min/kg). In addition, their VO₂max at the end of the experimentation is largely above the average value defined by literature (64.8 ml/min/kg). This can justify the choice of the mixed training method for the physical preparation of Cameroonian boxers.