The Effect of Circuit and Strength Training on the Leg Power in Female Basketball Athletes

Abstract

The objective of this research was to determine the effect of the types of exercise training (free weight vs. resistance band) and athletes’ initial leg power levels (high vs. low) and the interaction between the types of exercises and athletes’ initial power levels on the leg strength. The study was an experimental study with a two-by-two factorial design involving 20 female basketball athletes. Leg muscle strength was measured with a leg and back dynamometer, and leg power was measured with a vertical jump. Two-way ANOVA was used in the data analysis technique, followed by simple effect analyses using Tukey HSD when the interaction effect was significant. The findings indicated significant main effects of exercise types and power levels. However, the main effects were superseded by a statistically significant interaction effect between exercise types and power levels (F(16, 1) = [16.133], p = [0.001). Resistance training outperformed free-weight training in improving leg strength among athletes with high leg power levels. In contrast, free-weight training was better than resistance training in improving leg strength among athletes with low leg power levels. The exercise training for improving leg strength, therefore, should consider initial power levels.