PHYSICAL EDUCATION: PRACTICE, CESSATION AND RESUMPTION IN UNTRAINED SAUDI COLLEGE STUDENTS

The aim of the present study was twofold: firstly, to verify whether two classes a week of Physical Education (PE) are sufficient to improve physical fitness in college students. Secondly, to ascertain the effect of PE practice, cessation and resumption on the mentioned students. Thirty (30) untrained Saudi college students attended PE lessons twice a week for nine weeks. Subsequently, they were inactive for nine weeks, and finally, they attended PE classes again another period of nine weeks. After the two nine-week periods of PE, the participants improved their strength, endurance, speed and agility. The period of inactivity implied the loss of all the adaptations attained during the first nine weeks of practice, except muscular endurance in the trunk flexor muscles. Two classes a week of PE during nine weeks improve physical fitness in untrained university students. These improvements almost entirely decay after nine weeks of inactivity, but can be recovered with another nine weeks of PE classes. Individuals who resume PE lessons after nine weeks of PE followed by a nine-week inactivity period, could attain higher improvements in specific physical capacities (muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, speed and agility).