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Kung Fu training improves physical fitness measures in overweight/obese adolescents: the "martial fitness" study
Tsang TW, Kohn MR, Chow CM, Fiatarone Singh MA
Journal of Obesity 2010 Jun 7;(672751):Epub
clinical trial
7/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: Yes; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: Yes; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: No; Adequate follow-up: Yes; Intention-to-treat analysis: No; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

AIM: To examine the efficacy of a six-month Kung Fu (KF) program on physical fitness in overweight/obese adolescents. METHODS: Subjects were randomly assigned to the KF or sham exercise (Tai Chi, TC) control group. Physical measurements in cardiovascular fitness and muscle fitness occurred at baseline and after 6 months of training thrice weekly. RESULTS: Twenty subjects were recruited. One subject was lost to follow-up, although overall compliance to the training sessions was 46.7 +/- 27.8%. At follow-up, the cohort improved in absolute upper (p = 0.002) and lower (p = 0.04) body strength, and upper body muscle endurance (p = 0.02), without group differences. KF training resulted in significantly greater improvements in submaximal cardiovascular fitness (p = 0.03), lower body muscle endurance (p = 0.28; significant 95% CI 0.37 to 2.49), and upper body muscle velocity (p = 0.03) relative to TC training. CONCLUSIONS: This short-term KF program improved submaximal cardiovascular fitness, lower body muscle endurance, and muscle velocity, in overweight/obese adolescents with very low baseline fitness.

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