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Eight weeks of Capoeira progressive training program increases flexibility of beginners

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Abstract

Background

No study has investigated the alterations in the flexibility of beginners using an experimental protocol with basic techniques of Capoeira.

Purpose

To analyze the effects of 8 weeks of Capoeira progressive training program on the flexibility of beginners.

Methods

Twenty-one individuals divided in two groups (Capoeira: n = 13; 26.1 ± 7.2 years; 22.7 ± 2.7 kg m2(−1) and control: n = 08; 27.1 ± 0.5 years; 24.3 ± 3.3 kg m2(−1)) participated in the study. The Capoeira group performed 8 weeks of Capoeira progressive training program (two sessions per week lasting 60 min each). The experimental protocol used was exclusively based on the basic techniques of a programmed Capoeira training system. Before and after the intervention, measurements were performed aiming to analyze (1) trunk flexion flexibility through a sit-and-reach test using a Wells’ Bench (WBtf), (2) passive tension (PThf), and (3) maximum amplitude of hip flexion (MAhf) through goniometry.

Results

A two-way ANOVA revealed a main effect of group by time interaction to PThf (F = 11.797; P = 0.003; η 2p  = 0.383) and MAhf (F = 9.650; P = 0.006; η 2p  = 0.337). No significant main effect of group by time interaction occurred to WBtf (F = 3.320; P = 0.084; η 2p  = 0.149). The relative changes (∆ %) before and after the intervention in both groups showed that the Capoeira group significantly differed to the control group in the PThf (Capoeira: 46.2 ± 29.9 % vs. control: 5.7 ± 27.6 %; P = 0.003) and MAhf (Capoeira: 22.4 ± 24.5 % vs. control: −6.1 ± 13.1 %; P = 0.006).

Conclusion

Eight weeks of Capoeira progressive training program resulted in a significant improvement in angular flexibility for beginners.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Adaptated of Moreira et al. [18]

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Acknowledgments

CAPES (Research Support Foundation of the Brazil) to fund scholarships to Alfredo Anderson Teixeira de Araújo, and Iraíma Lago and Karoline Andrade by photo design.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colegiado de Educação Física (CEFIS), Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco-UNIVASF, Av. José de Sá Maniçoba, S/N-Centro, Petrolina, PE, CEP: 56304-917, Brazil

    Sérgio Rodrigues Moreira, Ferdinando Oliveira Carvalho, José Fernando Vila Nova de Moraes & Rodrigo Gustavo da Silva Carvalho

  2. Graduate Program on Physical Education, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco-UNIVASF, Petrolina, PE, Brazil

    Sérgio Rodrigues Moreira, Ferdinando Oliveira Carvalho, José Fernando Vila Nova de Moraes & Alfredo Anderson Teixeira-Araújo

  3. Graduate Program on Physical Education, University of Pernambuco-UPE, Petrolina, PE, Brazil

    Rodrigo Cappato de Araújo

  4. Graduate Program on Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte-UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Alexandre Hideki Okano

Authors
  1. Sérgio Rodrigues Moreira
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  2. Ferdinando Oliveira Carvalho
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  3. José Fernando Vila Nova de Moraes
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  4. Rodrigo Gustavo da Silva Carvalho
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  5. Rodrigo Cappato de Araújo
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  6. Alfredo Anderson Teixeira-Araújo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sérgio Rodrigues Moreira.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The present study was conducted in accordance to the requirements stipulated in the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (protocol 0031/270511 CEDEP).

Informed consent

The participants provided written informed consent before participating in the study.

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Moreira, S.R., Carvalho, F.O., de Moraes, J.F.V.N. et al. Eight weeks of Capoeira progressive training program increases flexibility of beginners. Sport Sci Health 12, 329–337 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-016-0292-y

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