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Abstract

Objective:The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of compound and isolated weightlifting patterns on core strength in female gym participants
Study Design: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted.
Place and duration of study: A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out on 186 healthy female gym members, aged 20 to 30 years.
Material & Method:This was a comparative cross-sectional study, conducted over the course of 6 months among gym going females in the twin cities (Islamabad and Rawalpindi). Total 186 participants were recruited from these gyms, 93 of which were doing compound weightlifting and 93 were doing isolated weightlifting with age range of 20 to 30 years. Core assessment was conducted using two standardized tests i-e plank test and leg lowering test. The data analysis was done using SPSS, using the Man Whitney statistical test.
Results:In descriptive analysis, mean and standard deviation of age and BMI is 25.73 ± 2.91 and 25.52 ±15.41 respectively. In inferential analysis, we used Shapiro-wilk test on age and BMI to check the normality. Normality value was 0.001, therefore we used a non parametric test, Man Whittney test to compare the plank timing and leg lowering angles between compound and isolated weight lifting groups. P-value of both were 0.001 which showed statistically significant differences between compound and isolated weight lifting groups.
Conclusion: The results indicate a significant difference in core strength between the two groups. The P-values are less than 0.05 therefore, the null hypothesis is rejected, and we conclude that compound exercises are associated with better core strength (longer plank times) and better core control (lower leg-lowering angles) than isolated exercises. This study highlights the importance of incorporating compound weightlifting patterns in gym going female participants for better core strength.
Keywords: Compound exercises, Core strength, Isolated exercises, Leg lowering test, Plank test, Weightlifting patterns