CC BY
0Improving the physical fitness of students on the basis of an elective course on the crossfit
system
UDC 796.01
Dr. Hab., Professor S.I. Filimonova1 PhD, Associate Professor A.S. Grachev2 PhD, Associate Professor D.E. Egorov3 PhD, Associate Professor D.V. Shcherbin3 1Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow
2Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov, Belgorod 3Moscow Polytechnic University, Moscow
Corresponding author: [email protected]
Abstract
Objective of the study was to increase the level of physical fitness of students by introducing classes based on the CrossFit system into the educational process of elective courses in physical culture and sports.
Methods and structure of the study. For scientific research, an experimental group (EG) was formed, including 77 people (47 boys and 30 girls) with an average age of 18.9 ± 1.4 years, and a control group (CG), consisting of 77 people (33 boys and 44 girls) with an average age of 19.4±1.2 years. During the 2021-2022 academic year, the EG was trained according to the methodology using the CrossFit system. To assess its effectiveness, in September 2021 and May 2022, control standards from the VFSK GTO - stage VI for men and women were adopted.
Results and conclusions. Comparative analysis of the results showed significant improvements in strength and aerobic endurance in men and women from the EG, while in the CG the results remained at the same level or slightly decreased. The obtained data testify to the positive impact of CrossFit classes on some components of students' physical fitness.
Keywords: elective courses in physical culture and sports, CrossFit, students.
Introduction. Insufficient physical activity is a common problem affecting student youth [7].
According to D. Garcia-Alvarez [3], the university environment is particularly suitable for health promotion activities and, in particular, for encouraging physical activity among students. Therefore, one of the tasks of education in higher educational institutions in Russia is to provide students with the opportunity to lead a healthy lifestyle and play sports. A significant positive factor can be the use of modern pedagogical technologies and new types of physical activity in the conditions of the university. Recently, in the system of higher education, a sports-specific approach to the organization of the educational process in the discipline "Elective courses in physical culture and sports" is increasingly used.
One of such forms of organizing the educational process in physical education at a university can be CrossFit. This is a form of high intensity exercise
in interval training. Thanks to the ability to scale and dose physical activity, CrossFit classes are suitable for people with different levels of physical fitness. Most of the exercises are performed with their own weight or public sports equipment (barbell, weights, dumbbells, rope), which are available in almost any sports complex. Mainly strength and aerobic exercises are used.
Therefore, it is advisable to check the effectiveness of this form of physical activity in the discipline "Elective courses in physical culture and sports" with students of higher educational institutions.
Objective of the study was to increase the level of physical fitness of students by introducing classes based on the CrossFit system into the educational process of elective courses in physical culture and sports.
Methods and structure of the study. According to studies [4, 8], the use of CrossFit as part of physical education classes at the university improves the indicators of physical fitness in men and women. How-
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ever, most of the studies were limited to a time interval of 8-12 weeks, which could be the reason for the lack of significant changes in the participants of the experiment. Therefore, the duration of our study was 34 weeks, which corresponds to one academic year at the university.
The study was conducted from September 2021 to June 2022 at the Moscow Polytechnic University. As part of the discipline "Elective courses in physical culture and sports", students were offered practical classes on the CrossFit system, which were held twice a week. The classes had a standard three-component structure and included preparatory (warm-up), main and final parts. The duration of exercise according to the CrossFit system varied from 30 minutes in the first 1-1.5 months of the experiment to 60 minutes in the last two months of the study.
In the process of analyzing the data on the research problem, it was found that in order to build an experimental CrossFit methodology for girls, the following exercises are recommended: squats, lunges, pushups from an emphasis lying down and push-ups in an emphasis with the arms positioned behind, lifting into a squat position from a prone position, work with a stuffed ball and cardio exercises (running, jumping rope), etc. The following exercises are recommended for young men: bringing straight legs to the crossbar, pulling up, squats, working with a stuffed ball, push-
ups from an emphasis lying or push-ups in an emphasis with the arms positioned behind and cardio exercises (running, jumping on a skipping rope), etc. The principle of interval circular training was applied. The number of repetitions at the station and the rest time varied depending on the level of physical fitness of the students. Intensity control was carried out according to heart rate indicators using personal fitness bracelets, smart watches or heart rate monitors.
Results of the study and their discussion. To assess the dynamics of changes in indicators in each group, a comparative analysis was carried out between EGm and KGm, as well as between EGw and KGw (see table).
In the present study, in men from the EG, the time to overcome a distance of 3000 m significantly decreased by 3.4%, which indicates an improvement in aerobic endurance. Women from the EG significantly improved their running time at a distance of 2000 m by 3.3%. Similar results were obtained in a study [5], where men with experience in CrossFit from 0 to 6 months, there is a decrease in the time of running 1.5 miles by 3.2%, but these changes do not have a significant difference.
The absence of changes in the 3000 m run in men and in the 2000 m run in women of the control group is due to the following factors. First, according to T.V. Artamonova [1], the 3000 m run among young men is
Comparative analysis of the results of meeting the standards of the 1st and 2nd dimension
Regulations Groups 1st dimension M±SD 2nd dimension M±SD P
3000 m run, s EGm 858,6 ± 53,2 829,8 ± 56,1 0,000
KGm 840,6 ± 67,5 857,3 ± 68,3 0,002
2000 m run, s EGw 659,7 ± 43,7 638,0 ± 53,6 0,017
KGw 661,5 ± 48,0 668,1 ± 54,8 0,160
30 m run, s EGm 4,4 ± 0,3 4,4 ± 0, 4 0,401
KGm 4,5 ± 0,3 4,5 ± 0,3 0,625
EGw 5,4 ± 0,4 5,3 ± 0,4 0,081
KGw 5,3 ± 0,3 5,3 ± 0,4 0,926
Flexion and extension of the arms in emphasis lying on the floor (number of times) EGm 46,1 ± 9,4 52,2 ± 10,0 0,000
KGm 42,6 ± 7,2 41,0 ± 9,1 0,115
EGw 11,3 ± 4,5 15,9 ± 5,7 0,001
KGw 11,0 ± 6,4 12,4 ± 6,8 0,010
Lifting the body from a supine position (number of times) EGm 46,6 ± 6,5 50,8 ± 6,8 0,000
KGm 49,3 ± 6,2 49,2 ± 6,7 0,919
EGw 49,7 ± 5,1 56,6 ± 4,6 0,000
KGw 47,3 ± 5,7 48,4 ± 6,7 0,138
Bold type indicates statistically significant values. For comparison, Student's t-test was used for paired samples.
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one of the most "difficult", since a combination of general endurance and the ability to manage one's psychophysical potential is necessary. Secondly, classes in elective disciplines in physical culture and sports in the CG of men and women mainly contained exercises in the 1st and 2nd intensity zones. And when running 3000 meters, heart rate indicators vary in the range from 160 to 180 beats / min. Accordingly, in the control groups of men and women, the intensity of physical activity did not allow to reduce lactate and respiratory thresholds.
A significant improvement in strength endurance in men and women of the experimental group is due to the mechanism of the impact of CrossFit training. The proposed intensity and nature of physical exercises contributes to the development of strength endurance and hypertrophy. In the presented study, the change in the number of push-ups (flexions and extensions of the arms in an emphasis lying on the floor) is consistent with the results of previous studies [2], where the increase in indicators varied from 22% to 34%. In the presented study, in men from the EG, a significant improvement was 13.2% (t=4.7; p=0.000), and in women from the EG, the indicators improved by 40.7% (t=5.3; p=0.001). In the studies of S. J. Cos-grove [5], similar results were obtained. Women with 0 to 6 months of CrossFit experience had a 23.3% increase in pushups, while men with a similar CrossFit experience saw a 3.8% increase in reps. In our study, such a significant percentage change in the number of push-ups in women is associated with initially low values (M=11.3 SD=4.5). Accordingly, increasing the average by four repetitions showed such a significant increase in percentage terms. In the control group, significant changes in push-ups were found in women (t=2.86; p=0.010). Their number of repetitions increased by 12.7%. The level of strength endurance of men from the CG remained the same.
When analyzing studies on the effect of CrossFit on the abdominal muscles, we were able to find only one work [10], in which schoolchildren (15-16 years old) did CrossFit twice a week for eight weeks. The results obtained did not reveal significant changes in the performance of the exercise, which assesses the strength endurance of the abdominal muscles. In our study, this indicator significantly improved in men from the EG by 9%, and in women by 13%. Such dynamics can be explained by the inclusion in our classes for men of the exercises "lifting the legs in the hang on the crossbar" and "raising the body from a supine position", and for
women - "raising bent legs to the chest" and "raising the body from a prone position". back." Our assumptions are confirmed by the works of A. Rutkowska-Kucharska and A. Shpal [6], in which students (20-25 years old) showed a significant increase in the number of repetitions of lifting the body from a supine position after four weeks of classes, three workouts per week with abdominal exercises.
A systematic review found no studies investigating the effect of CrossFit on speed performance. Therefore, it is impossible to draw parallels with other studies. Nevertheless, the results obtained indicate the absence of significantly significant changes in the 30-meter run, both in the experimental and control groups in men and women. The logic of the obtained result is explained by the nature of the CrossFit exercises performed in our study. The duration of the exercises, the number of repetitions and rest intervals do not correspond to traditional recommendations. In a study by T.J. Sukhomel, it is shown that in order to develop speed, it is necessary to perform from three to six approaches, one to five repetitions of the exercise in each approach, with an intensity of 30-60% of the maximum weight. Since in our study the exercises were performed with a large number of repetitions, the above aspect was not satisfied, the speed abilities of the participants remained at the same level.
Conclusions. The results of the study show the positive impact of CrossFit training. During the academic year, students who systematically practiced CrossFit twice a week as part of the elective disciplines in physical culture and sports improved their aerobic and strength endurance indicators. While the students who did not use these classes within this discipline, there were no significant changes (with the exception of the test exercises "Flexion and extension of the arms in an emphasis lying on the floor" in women). Thus, the expediency and effectiveness of the use of CrossFit tools in the framework of training sessions is shown.
The presented study complements the knowledge about the impact of CrossFit classes on the physical qualities of a person, namely, the absence of significant changes in the speed abilities of students involved in CrossFit.
Because the study sessions were conducted as part of a credit-based academic discipline, it is difficult to ascertain the true motives and goals of the students that motivated them to engage in CrossFit. Therefore, future research should focus not only on the impact
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of CrossFit activities on the physical qualities of students, but also on assessing the motives that motivate them to exercise.
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