EFFECTS OF TRAINING FREQUENCIES ON MUSCULAR FITNESS AMONG AMATEUR TRACK EVENT ATHLETES IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of different training frequencies on muscular strength and endurance among track event athletes at Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria. A quasi-experimental design was employed with 24 participants (19 males, 5 females) randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group, a three-training-sessions-per-week group, and a five-training-sessions-per-week group. Over an 8-week period, participants engaged in resistance training for strength and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for endurance. Pretest and posttest measurements of muscular strength (via the push-up test) and endurance (via the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test) were collected. Data were analysed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), with pretest scores as a covariate. The results revealed a significant improvement in muscular strength for both experimental groups compared to the control group. Specifically, the five-sessions-per-week group showed the greatest strength gains (F(2, 20) = 12.869, p = <0.001, η² = 0.563). However, there was no significant difference in muscular endurance between the groups (F(2, 20) = 0.001, p = 0.974, η² = 0.000), suggesting that while training frequency had a strong impact on strength, it did not significantly affect endurance within the 8-week period. The study concludes that training three to five times per week can lead to notable strength gains, with higher frequencies yielding the best results. However, endurance improvements may require longer interventions. Future research should consider longer training durations (e.g., 12–16 weeks) and explore mixed training modalities, combining both aerobic conditioning and resistance training, to optimise both strength and endurance outcomes in athletes.