44
INFLUENCE OF STEP AEROBICS TRAINING
PROGRAMME ON CHOSEN DIMENSIONS OF
MORPHOLOGICAL STATUS IN MALES
VPLIV TRENA@NEGA PROGRAMA STEP
AEROBIKE NA NEKATERE RAZSE@NOSTI
MORFOLO[KEGA STATUSA MO[KIH
Damir Sekuli}*
Gordana Furjan-
Mandi}**
Miran Kondri~***
Sekuli}, D., Furjan-Mandi}, G., Kondri}, M. (2001). Influence of step aerobics training programme on… KinSI 7(1–2), 44–48
Abstract 
The aim of the research was to establish the transfor-
mational effects of step aerobics programme on selec-
ted morphological parameters among 26 male sub-
jects, participants of the programme. The programme
consisted of 25 step aerobics training sessions and la-
sted for nine weeks. The subject of analysis was chan-
ges in four variables concerning the thickness of skin
fold and four circumferences of corresponding parts
of the body. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed
a satisfying level of significance of differences in morp-
hological dimensions, which can be represented by
noteworthy changes in two selected variables (abdo-
minal skin fold and thigh skin fold). We assume that
changes in circumferences of selected body parts did
not reach the satisfying level of significance because
of minor muscle hypertrophy, which compensated the
decrease caused by reduction of the subcutaneous
fatty tissue.
Key words: step aerobics, males, morphology, pro-
gramme, transformational effects
Izvle~ek
Z raziskavo smo ugotavljali vpliv programa step aero-
bike na posamezne morfolo{ke mere. Vzorec je pred-
stavljalo 26 merjencev, ki so sodelovali v programu.
Vadba je obsegala 25 vadbenih enot step aerobike, ki
so jih merjenci izvajali v obdobju devetih tednov. Ana-
lizirane so spremembe na {tirih spremenljivkah za
oceno ugotavljanja koli~ine podko`nega ma{~evja in
{tirih pripadajo~ih obsegov telesa. Multivariatna ana-
liza variance je pokazala ustrezno raven zna~ilnosti
nastalih sprememb v morfolo{kem prostoru, kar je
vidno iz ugotovljenih statisti~no zna~ilnih sprememb
na dveh posameznih spremenljivkah (ko`na guba tre-
buha in ko`na guba stegna).  Domnevamo, da spre-
membe obsegov izbranih delov telesa niso bile stati-
sti~no zna~ilne zaradi blage hipertrofije mi{i~evja, kar
je v meri obsegov nadomestilo izgubo, ki je povzro-
~ena z zmanj{anjem velikosti ko`nih gub. 
Klju~ne besede: step aerobika, mo{ki, morfologija,
vadba, program, spremembe
(Received: 28. 03. 2000 – Accepted: 27. 06. 2001)
*University of Split – Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and
Education, Split, Croatia
** University of Zagreb – Faculty of Physical Education, Zagreb, Croa-
tia
*** University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sport, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Contact address 
Damir Sekuli}
University of Split – Faculty of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Edu-
cation, Split, Croatia
Teslina 12
HR–21000 SPLIT
Phone: +385 21 385 102
Fax: +385 21 385 431
E_mail:damir.sekulic@yahoo.com

45 Sekuli}, D., Furjan-Mandi}, G., Kondri}, M. (2001). Influence of step aerobics training programme on… KinSI 7(1–2), 44–48
INTRODUCTION
Nowadays modern aerobics is one of the most popu-
lar organised forms of recreational exercising. One of
the reasons of fast development of this sports-recrea-
tional activity is undoubtedly a vast variety of its forms
(Metiko{, Zagorc, Prot, Furjan-Mandi}, & Zaletel,
1997; Zagorc, Zaletel, & I`anc, 1996). Despite the
discrepancies, existing forms of aerobics can in the
first place be characterised by possibility of relatively
precise dosing the effort that is of basically aerobic or
slightly anaerobic intensity (Williford, Scharf-Olson,
& Blessing, 1989; Sekuli}, 1995, 1997, 1999). Work
intensity of this kind enables relatively long and dis-
continued training that, besides the content of the
training and realisation of earlier defined intensity, is
the main precondition for reaching the already con-
firmed results of this kind of activity, which among ot-
hers include:
• Enhancement of the efficiency of respiratory system
– increased oxygen uptake (Berry, Cline, Berry, &
Davis, 1992; Williford et al., 1998);
• Changes in the body structure – decrease of sub-
cutaneous fatty tissue (Thomsen, & Ballor, 1991).
Most of the researches however concentrate on the
influence of different kinds of aerobics on women,
particularly young ones (McCord, & Patterson, 1989)
and on elderly participants (Shimamoto, Adachi, Ta-
kahashi, & Tanaka, 1998). Remarkably, a small num-
ber of studies deal with the programme of aerobic
created for male subjects (Scharff-Olson, Williford,
Blessing, & Brown, 1996). Therefore the amount of
information about potential effects of different kinds
of aerobics on male participants is insufficient. The
source of this situation lies in the fact that most of the
population taking part in such kinesiological program-
mes are women. Nevertheless, the growing number
of men participating in various forms of aerobics eli-
cits the need of exploring the transformational effects
of these programmes also on the male population. 
Aims of the Research
The aim of the research was to analyse the quantity
and quality of changes that appeared as an effect of
the training programme of still more popular, in Croa-
tia as in the world, step aerobics, in male participants
of the programme. Analysis of the anthropometrical -
morphological characteristics involved four variables
concerning the circumferences of body parts and four
variables of the thickness of skin fold in correspon-
ding areas.
METHODS 
Sample of subjects
The sample consisted of 26 male students of Faculty
of Technical and Mathematical Sciences, and Peda-
gogy of University in Split, Croatia, aged 20 in the ave-
rage. All subjects were in good health condition. 
Sample of variables 
Experiment included the analysis of changes in four
variables estimating the amount of subcutaneous fat-
ty tissue and four variables estimating the circumfe-
rences of selected parts of the body («Morphological
anthropometrics in sport«, Mi{igoj-Durakovi}, 1995)
such, as:
1. Upper arm skin fold –AKNN
2. Abdominal skin fold –AKNT
3. Thigh skin fold – AKNAT
4. Calf skin fold –AKPO
5. Upper arm circumference (relaxed) –AOPN
6. Abdominal circumference –AOPT
7. Thigh circumference –AONT
8. Calf circumference – AOPOD
Course of experiment 
Before the training programme started, the subjects
had taken part in initial measurement of analysed va-
riables.
After the initial measurement, the training process has
started. Programme consisted of 25 training sessions
scheduled three times a week and lasted for 9 weeks.
First 30 to 35 minutes out of each 60-minutes-long-
training were prescribed for the classic step cardio
programme (average heart rate value in this part of
the training was 155 beats per minute). This part of
the training was followed by 15-minutes-long power
training of separate parts of the body (three minutes
for each listed part: abdomen, legs, loin area of the
back, hands and shoulder girdle). Each session at its
end included a stretching programme (5 to 10 minu-
tes). The final testing had taken place after the com-
pletion of all 25 trainings. Final measurement included
the same variables as the initial.
Methods of data processing
To attain the exact indicators of changes in the period
between the initial and final testing, data gathered
during the two measurements were processed by fol-
lowing statistical procedures:
1. Estimation of descriptive statistical parameters
from initial and final measurement (arithmetical
mean, standard deviation, minimal and maximal
results of measurement);
2. Multivariate and univariate analysis of variance of
the results of initial and final measurement. 

46 Sekuli}, D., Furjan-Mandi}, G., Kondri}, M. (2001). Influence of step aerobics training programme on… KinSI 7(1–2), 44–48
Table 1 and Figure 1 present the results obtained du-
ring initial and final measurement on the chosen sam-
ple.
Analysing the global degree of changes by multivaria-
te analysis of variance (MANOVA) we can estimate
the level of statistical significance (Wilks Lambda =
0.1 at p = 0.04) as satisfying. Therefore we can conc-
lude that the step aerobics programme caused signi-
ficant changes in anthropometrical characteristics of
the subjects. 
Univariate analysis of variance revealed two signifi-
cant changes in the thickness of the skin fold: abdo-
minal skin fold – AKNT (p = 0.00) and thigh skin fold
– AKNAT (p = 0.05). In case of both variables a con-
siderable decrease was observed. There were no sta-
tistically significant changes (neither decrease nor in-
crease) in any other analysed variable.
Considering the results from Table 1 and Figure 1, we
can notice an inconsistency in changes of circumfe-
rence. For instance, in case of variable »abdominal
circumference« we can observe a slight decrease of
numeric value of arithmetical mean between the ini-
tial and final testing (from 78.92 to 78.09) and also
considerable decrease of maximal result of the mea-
Variable Initial measurement Final measurement MANOVA
mean min max SD mean min max SD
AKNN 6.13 3.47 10.33 2.07 6.09 3.8 9.6 1.94
AKNT 8.45 5.13 14.8 2.77 6.8*** 4 10 1.96
AKNAT 10.21 4.8 18.27 3.36 9.54* 4.8 16.4 2.99
AKPO 10.06 5 16.93 3.4 9.78 4.6 14.6 2.9
AOPN 29.7 25.6 36.4 2.87 28.8 25.5 31.7 1.83
AOPT 78.92 72.3 86.4 3.47 78.09 71.9 83.6 2.81
AONT 54.55 49.3 60.2 3.98 55.19 49.7 61 3.21
AOPOD 36.93 33.3 41 2.91 36.67 32 40.6 2.61
RESULTS
Table 1.: Descriptive statistical parameters of initial and final measurement
Wilks Lambda = 0.1
P = 0.04
Legend: Mean - arithmetic mean; 
Min - minimal result; 
Max - maximal result; 
SD -  Standard deviation
Multivariate analysis of variance (Wilks Lambda, statistical significance – p)
Univariate analysis of variance (***p=0.00; *p < 0.05)
THICKNESS OF THE SKINFOLD
Initial and final (2) measurement
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
AKNN
AKNT
AKNAT
AKPO
AKNN2
AKNT2
AKNAT2
AKPO2
PERIMETERS OF BODY PARTS
Initial and final (2) measurement
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
AOPN
AOPT
AONT
AOPOD
AOPN2
AOPT2
AONT2
AOPOD2
Max
Min
AS
Figure 1.: Graphic presentation of results distribution (Min – Max) and arithme-
tical mean for analysed variables

47 Sekuli}, D., Furjan-Mandi}, G., Kondri}, M. (2001). Influence of step aerobics training programme on… KinSI 7(1–2), 44–48
surement (from 86.4 to 83.6). We can conclude that
the state of the subjects with the highest values of ab-
dominal circumference changed the most significantly
in direction of the decrease of the value. 
In case of the thigh circumference – AOPN, we can
observe the opposite trend. In spite of no statistical
significance of differences, we can notice the growth
of numeric value of arithmetical mean and also of mi-
nimal and increase of maximal results of initial and fi-
nal measurement, although, considering statistically
significant decrease of the skin fold value in the same
body area – AKNAT, it was hard to expect. Similar il-
logical transformations can be observed also in other
analysed variables (e.g. calf). 
DISCUSSION
The interesting fact is that we could not observe any
noticeable changes among any of the variables con-
cerning the circumference of body parts, although
they could be expected taking into account changes
of the thickness of the skin fold in selected body ar-
eas.
We assume that the reasons of this phenomenon may
be as follows: Step aerobics exerts a positive influen-
ce on the reduction of the quantity of subcutaneous
fatty tissue among the participants of the programme.
This fact is confirmed by current as well as earlier re-
searches that were carried out mostly on women (Kra-
vitz, Cisar, Christensen, & Setterlund, 1993). Changes
can be represented by decrease of skin fold value in
selected parts of the body. Meanwhile, the functional
loading of certain muscle groups (mainly the legs) cau-
ses possible minor hypertrophy in chosen areas. The-
refore, because of simultaneous reduction of subcu-
taneous fat and growth of muscle tissue, we cannot
notice statistically significant changes of neither direc-
tion, among the variables concerning the circumfe-
rence of the body parts. 
On the base of obtained results we can conclude that
step aerobics programme induced in students – par-
ticipants of the programme, a positive transformation
in the form of decrease of subcutaneous fat. Statisti-
cally significant changes were observed in the variab-
les concerning the parameters of abdominal skin fold
and thigh skin fold. There were no significant chan-
ges among the variables concerning the circumferen-
ce of selected parts of the body. We can speculate
that the problem lies in simultaneous decrease of skin
fold values and mild hypertrophy of the muscles in
same body areas, which is the reason for relatively
steady circumference values in analysed body parts.
CONCLUSIONS
The aim of current research was to establish the sig-
nificance of changes in anthropometrical measures of
circumference and skin fold in selected body areas,
under the influence of 25 step aerobic training ses-
sions conducted during nine weeks. 
Multivariate analysis of variance revealed sufficient
statistical significance of differences between the ini-
tial and final measurement of variables of morpholo-
gical – anthropometrical status. Hence it proved the
positive transformational effects of the step aerobics
programme. 
Univariate analysis of variance exposed satisfactory
significance of two variables of skin fold estimation
(abdominal skin fold and skin fold of the thigh). The
reason of relatively small number of single significant
differences probably lies in insufficient duration of the
experiment. This assumption can be supported by the
fact that that the studied sample consisted of male
students, who have relatively small skin fold parame-
ters in contrast to females –main subjects of compa-
rable researches (Williford et al., 1989; Kravitz et al.,
1993; Shimamoto et al., 1998).
Considering the changes in the circumference of cho-
sen parts of the body we can notice a total lack of sig-
nificance of differences in single variables. We assu-
me that during the course of the training programme
the functional loading in analysed areas caused slight
temporary hypertrophy. Because of simultaneous de-
crease of the skin fold thickness, the significant chan-
ges among the analysed variables of circumference
cannot be noticed.
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