EFFECT OF STRENGTH TRAINING ON PHYSICAL FITNESS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN VADODARA - A PILOT STUDY

Background: Physical fitness is pivotal for health and development in adolescents, yet global trends indicate rising physical inactivity, particularly in urban India. Vadodara, a rapidly urbanizing city, faces unique challenges such as extreme weather, limited infrastructure, and under-resourced physical education (PE) programs, exacerbating health risks like childhood obesity and cardiometabolic disorders. Despite evidence supporting school-based fitness interventions, localized data and contextually adapted programs remain scarce.Need for the Study: This pilot study addresses critical gaps in understanding baseline fitness levels and testing feasible interventions in resource-constrained Indian schools. With only 34% of urban Gujarat schools adhering to national PE guidelines, there is an urgent need for scalable strategies to counteract sedentary behaviors and align with India’s National Education Policy 2020, which emphasizes holistic development.Methodology: A 12-week strength and conditioning program was implemented among 15 adolescents (14–16 years) in Vadodara. The intervention included thrice-weekly sessions focusing on compound exercises (e.g., squats, deadlifts), supervised by fitness professionals. Fitness metrics (explosive power, agility, grip strength, abdominal endurance, BMI) were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the ASSO Fitness Battery Test. Paired t-tests analyzed statistical significance.Results: Significant improvements were observed in explosive leg power (standing board jump: *p* < 0.001) and abdominal endurance (sit-ups: *p* < 0.001). However, agility declined (10-meter shuttle run: *p* < 0.001), and grip strength showed non-significant long-term changes (*p* = 0.334). BMI remained stable across the intervention.Conclusion: The study demonstrates the efficacy of school-based resistance training in improving muscular fitness, underscoring its feasibility in low-resource settings. However, the decline in agility highlights the necessity for integrated agility drills and holistic approaches combining nutrition and recovery protocols. These insights inform scalable strategies to address India’s physical inactivity crisis.