The effect of artistic gymnastics and step aerobics on physical performance in first-year female university students not related to sport

Aim. The article deals with establishing the effect of step aerobics and artistic gymnastics on physical performance in first year female university students. Materials and methods. 80 full-time female university students participated in the study. The first group practiced artistic gymnastics (Group 1, n = 40), the second group (Group 2, n = 40) - step aerobics. The mean age was 18.35 ± 0.04 years. In September and December 2017, their physical development, physical fitness, physical performance, respiratory and cardiovascular systems were assessed based on standard procedures using the data of maximum oxygen consumption and the step test. Results. At the beginning of the experiments, there were no statistically significant differences between Group 1 and Group 2. The mean maximum oxygen consumption values corresponded to satisfactory performance (39.85 ± 0.37 - Group 1, 38.92 ± 0.42 - Group 2, р = 0.1). At the end of the experiment, there were statistically significant differences in terms of the mean maximum oxygen consumption: 40.73 ± 0.21 - Group 1 and 41.61 ± 0.21 - Group 2. The results of the ranking showed that the majority of participants demonstrated an increase in physical performance. Group 1 showed an increase in the standing long jump, Group 2 improved 2000 m running time and the standing long jump. Group 2 also demonstrated a decrease in heart rate and an increase in adaptation capacities. Conclusion. The lessons of artistic gymnastics during a semester do not influence significantly physical performance but improve speed-strength characteristics. Step aerobics influences positively physical performance, speed-strength characteristics, and the cardiovascular system in first-year female university students not related to sport.