IMPORTANCEStrength training exercise is recommended for improving physical function in older adults. However, whether strength training (lifting and lowering weights under control) and power training (PT) (lifting weights fast and lowering under control) are associated with improved physical function in older adults is not clear. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether PT vs traditional strength training is associated with physical function improvement in older adults.

METHODS:A total of 49 college students, who were all beginners, were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EITM) (n=26, male%=26; age: 18.85±0.68 yr.; height: 175.67±6.64cm; weight: 69.55±10.74 kg), and the control group (CNLT) (n=23, male%=23; age: 18.17±0.39yr.; height: 166.43±6.87 cm; weight: 68.01±10.96 kg). There was no significant difference in BTC measured by baseball skills assessment between two groups (EITM1: 1.62±0.90, CNLT1: 1.43±1.04, P>0.05, ES=0.18) before the intervention. Both CNLT and EITM interventions were 90 minutes per week, for a total of 16 weeks. Except for language, the teaching hours, contents, plan and evaluation were all the same. Paired t-test, independent sample ttest and normality test were used and effect size (ES) was computed based on: (µ1-µ2)/α(µ=Mean, α=SD). RESULTS: Compared with pre-intervention, BTC of both EITM2 and CNLT2(16.46±2.23, p <0.01;14.52±3.00, p <0.01, respectively)was improved , but ES in EITM(16.53) was larger than CNLT (12.62). In addition, there was a difference between EITM2 and CNLT2 with an ES = 0.65. Together, the benefit of SLT to sport learning was supported. CONCLUSION: Compared with CNLT, EITM showed some benefits on the improvement of BTC of college students.

No abstract