A comparative study of effect of step aerobic training for six weeks with 6 inches and 8 inches step platform at 126 beats per minute (BPM) on kinetic (ground reaction force) and kinematic (temporal) variables

Abstract

A study was conducted with the objective to analyze the effect of six weeks step aerobic training on selected kinetic (Ground Reaction Force) and Kinematic (Temporal) of step aerobic training with the Protocol 1-of lower step (6 inches) and lower music tempo [126 beats per minute (BPM)] and adaptation to the same, Protocol 2- higher step (8 inches) and music tempo [126 beats per minute (BPM)], and comparison of the two. The study was delimited to female subjects only (N=32), age ranging from 18 to 22 years, height of step platform set 6 inches and 8 inches, music set at 126 beats per minute. The study delimited to selected kinetic (Ground Reaction Force) variables namely as Peak Force in X-axis on Force Plate 2(PF2X), Peak Force in y-axis on Force Plate 2 (PF2Y), Peak Force in z-axis on Force Plate 2 (PF2Z), Peak Force in X-axis on Force plate 1(PF1X), Peak Force in Y-axis on Force Plate 1(PF1Y), Peak Force in Z-axis on Force Plate 1(PF1Z), Kinematic (Temporal Variables) namely as Time taken to achieve Peak Force in X-axis on Force Plate 2(TPF2X), Time taken to achieve Peak Force in Y-axis on Force Plate 2(TPF2Y), Time taken to achieve Peak Force in Z-axis on Force Plate 2(TPF2Z), Time taken to achieve Peak Force in X-axis on Force plate 1(TPF1X), Time taken to achieve Peak Force i in Y-axis on force plate 1(TPF1Y), Time taken to achieve peak force in Z- axis on force plate 1(TPF1Z). The Data Recording and quantification for pre-test and post-test were administered by Dynamometric Analysis (force plate recordings) for both 6 inch and 8 inch Step Aerobic Training. Collected data were computed with mean, standard deviation and t-test. The Ground Reaction variables namely as PF2X, PF2Y, PF2Z, PF1X, PF1Y, PF1Z, TPF2X, TPF2Y, TPF2Z and TPF1X, TPF1Y, TPF1Z, decreased significantly. Six weeks of step aerobic training were found to be sufficient length of training (training cycle) for bio-mechanical adaptation. All the selected kinetic (ground reaction force) and kinematic(Temporal) variables supported each other as per the existing literature or research and were found suitable for step aerobic training evaluation.