Comparative on the Effectiveness of a Combined Exercise Approach (NASM) on the Musculoskeletal Disorders and Physical Fitness Parameters of Male Students

Students may suffer from less activity due to their studies and research work, resulting in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), poor physical fitness, and a variety of non-transmissible diseases, particularly at early entrance to the university. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of NASM-based combined training exercise on MSDs and physical fitness parameters (PFPs) of male students. In this semi-experimental study, ۴۰ male students aged ۱۸-۲۰ years from Isfahan University of Technology were selected as subjects and randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group participated in the NASM training sessions for ۸ weeks, three sessions per week and ۱ hour per session. Before and after the intervention, levels of MSDs were assessed through New York test (to achieve a total score) and physical fitness of subjects by measuring muscle strength, flexibility, cardiovascular capacity, and agility. Data were analyzed by the repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS V. ۲۴ software. Results indicated significant MSDs (p=۰.۰۰۱) and PFPs such as weight (p=۰.۰۱۸), flexibility (p=۰.۰۰۱), agility (p=۰.۰۰۱), strength (P=۰.۰۰۵), and maximum oxygen consumption (p=۰.۰۰۵). There were significant differences in all PFPs and MSDs in pretest compared to posttest (p≥۰.۰۵). No significant difference was observed in the group interaction with the weight measurement step (p=۰.۱۵۹). The results showed that some PFPs, such as flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular endurance, reduce in individuals with MSDs. By performing NASM-based combined training exercises, MSDs can be reduced to a great extent, thereby, improving the PFPs. Musculoskeletal abnormalities, combined exercises (NASM), physical fitness.

Keywords:

Musculoskeletal abnormalities , combined exercises (NASM) , physical fitness.