Effect of Kettle Bell Swing Exercise on the Body Composition and Lower Limb Muscular Activity

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of Kettle bell swing exercise on the body composition and lower limb muscular activity. METHODS: As subjects, 26 normal adults in their twenties were divided randomly into the experiment group (n=13), in which Kettle bell exercise was applied, and the control group (n=13), in which bar exercise was applied. Both groups participated in the interventions for eight weeks with three sessions per week. Each group was assessed before training and four and eight weeks into the training to determine the effects of training intervention within and between the groups. The body composition was measured with a body composition analyzer. The changes in muscle activity were measured with a surface electromyography. An independent t-test was conducted to test the significance between the groups according to the measurement points and Repeated measured ANOVA was performed to compare the groups according to the periods with the statistical significance level set to α=0.05. RESULTS: No significant changes to the main effects of time and the interactions of time according to the measurement points were observed in the Kettle bell and control groups in the body composition (p>0.05). The muscular activity of both muscles were significantly different between the Kettle bell and control groups according to the measurement points with the exception of the right lateral gastrocnemius muscle (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that Kettle bell swing exercise can have positive effects on the development of lower limb muscles.