Aerobic responses of prepubertal boys to two modes of training

Craig A Williams, Neil Armstrong and Julian Powell

Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre, University of Exeter, Heavitree, Exeter EX1 2LU, United Kingdom

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to: Dr C A Williams.

Objective—To investigate the effects of two contrasting eight week training programmes on the aerobic performance of 39 prepubescent boys (mean age 10.1 years).

Methods—All boys were volunteer subjects from three city schools and the schools were matched by a health related behaviour questionnaire. All of the boys were assessed as Tanner stage one for genitalia and pubic hair development. Criterion laboratory tests included peak O₂ as assessed by an incremental discontinuous treadmill test to voluntary exhaustion. Submaximal measurements of heart rate, minute ventilation (E) and O₂ were also recorded during the treadmill test. One of the schools provided the control group (n = 14), and boys from the other schools followed two contrasting training programmes. The first was a sprint interval running programme (n = 12) comprising 10 second and 30 second sprints, and the second a continuous cycle ergometer programme (n = 13) maintaining a heart rate in the range 80–85% of maximum for 20 minutes on a Monark cycle ergometer. After eight weeks training three times a week, the three groups were retested.

Results—There were no significant differences in peak O₂ (p>0.05) with training in either of the groups. Neither were there significant changes in any of the submaximal variables O₂, E, or heart rate (p>0.05).

Conclusion—The findings of this study indicate that neither eight week sprint interval running nor continuous cycle ergometer training programmes significantly improve maximal or submaximal indicators of the aerobic performance of prepubertal boys.

Key Words: oxygen uptake; aerobic performance; training; prepubescent; boys

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