The Effects of 6- Week Strength and Speed Training Program on Some Physical and Physiological Parameters in Adolescent Boxers

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a six-week strength and speed training program on physical and physiological parameters in adolescent boxers. Twenty-nine healthy male boxers aged 15-17 years, with a minimum of four years of athletic experience, voluntarily participated in the study. The participants were divided into two experimental groups, maximal strength (n: 10, age: 15.20±0.42 years, height: 172.60±5.46 cm, body weight: 62.71±14.65 kg), maximal speed (n: 10, age: 15.70±0.95 years, height: 169.70±7.89 cm, body weight: 58.05±8.45 kg) and a control group (n: 9, age: 16.11±0.93 years, height: 174.11±6.64 cm, body weight: 67.09±9.73 kg). Boxers in the maximal strength and maximal speed groups underwent strength and speed training, respectively, in addition to boxing training three days per week during the six-week training period, while the control group only received boxing training during this period. Height, body weight, body fat percentage, heart rate, visual reaction speed, anaerobic power (vertical jump), hand grip strength, back strength, and aerobic power (20 m shuttle run) measurements were taken for all participating boxers both before and after the training period. The SPSS package program was used in the statistical analysis of the data. Comparing intra-group values for the maximal strength group before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the training period, significant differences were found in favor of the post-test results for right-hand grip, left-hand grip, and back strength (p < .05), while no significant differences were observed for the other parameters (p > .05). In the maximal speed group, there were significant differences in visual reaction times for both right and left hands, left-hand grip strength, and the 20 m shuttle run in favor of the post-test results (p < .05), while no significant differences occurred in the other parameters (p > .05). In the control group, a significant difference in visual reaction time for the right hand was detected (p < .05), while there were no significant differences in the other parameters (p > .05). In conclusion, the six weeks of maximal strength and maximal speed training undergone by adolescent male boxers had a positive effect on certain physical and physiological parameters.