Dynamics of cadets’ physical condition and somatic health indicators in the process of their functional training

Abstract

The purpose of the work is to investigate the impact of functional training using the CrossFit system on the physical condition and somatic health of junior training-year cadets during their academic training under martial law. Materials and methods. The research, conducted in 2023–2025, involved 67 male cadets in their first and second training years (aged 17–20) enrolled in 2023 at the Korolyov Zhytomyr Military Institute (Zhytomyr, Ukraine). At the beginning of the research (September 2023), two groups were formed from the first-year cadets: an experimental group (EG, n = 33) and a control group (CG, n = 34). During physical training sessions, the EG cadets followed the methodology we developed to improve their physical condition and somatic health through CrossFit. In contrast, the CG followed the current program on «Physical Education, Special Physical Training». The number of hours per week devoted to physical training sessions in the EG and the CG was the same and amounted to 4 hours (2 training sessions of 2 hours each). Research methods: analysis and generalization of literary sources, testing, medical and biological methods, statistical analysis. The physical condition of cadets was assessed using the following tests: a 100 m run, pull-ups, and a 3 km run. The somatic health of cadets was assessed using the method developed by G. L. Apanasenko. Results. It was found that at the end of the research, the results of the EG cadets in all tests were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) better than those of the CG: in the 100 m run, by 0.5 seconds, in pull-ups, by 2.1 times, in the 3 km run, by 29.1 seconds. Based on the results of assessing the somatic health indicators of cadets in the EG and the CG, it was found that most of the indices studied at the end of the research in the EG were significantly (p < 0.05–0.001) better than in the CG: the BMI – by 0.67 kg/m2, the VI – by 2.18 ml/kg, the SI – by 5.06 %, the RI – by 5.13 c. u., the HRRTI – by 11.7 seconds, the SHL – by 2.28 points. CrossFit training had the most pronounced positive effect on the following indices: strength index, body mass index, Robinson index, and somatic health level. Conclusions. The high level of physical condition and somatic health achieved during CrossFit training sessions during the junior training years will contribute to the faster development and improvement of military-applied motor skills and special qualities of cadets in the senior training years.