CHANGES IN SPECIAL PHYSICAL TRAINING IN BODYBUILDERERS 21-23 YEARS OLD IN THE MENS PHYSICS NOMINATION DURING THE ANNUAL MACROCYCLE UNDER THE CLASSIC PROGRAM

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the period-specific dynamics of indicators of special physical fitness in qualified 21-23-year-old bodybuilders competing in the Men’s Physique division during an annual macrocycle designed according to a classical training program. The pedagogical experiment involved 22 athletes (height category up to 179 cm). The level of special fitness was assessed using standardized 30-second strength-endurance tests with fixed external loads: barbell bench press 50 kg; standing dumbbell press 15 kg in each hand; back squat 50 kg; conventional deadlift 50 kg; standing dumbbell curl 10 kg in each hand; lat pulldown to the chest 40 kg (number of repetitions in 30 s). Comparisons were made across three periods of the annual cycle (I – reparatory, II – competitive, III – transition). Distribution normality was tested using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov criterion, and the statistical significance of differences was determined using Student’s t-test. The results showed unidirectional changes in special work capacity within the macrocycle: for all control exercises, the number of repetitions decreased in Periods II and III compared with Period I, while no significant differences were found between Periods II and III (p>0.05). In particular, in the barbell bench press test the results decreased from 24,5±1,21 to 20,2±1,26 and 18,3±1,28 repetitions (t₁,₂=2,37; p₁,₂<0,05; t₁,₃=3,55; p₁,₃<0,001); in the standing dumbbell press – from 24,6±1,11 to 20,5±1,51 and 19,5±1,56 (t₁,₂=2,26; p₁,₂<0,05; t₁,₃=2,63; p₁,₃<0,05); in the back squat–from 24,6±1,51 to 20,3±1,25 and 18,9±1,32 (t₁,₂=2,21; p₁,₂<0,05; t₁,₃=2,96; p₁,₃<0,01); in the conventional deadlift–from 27,2±1,47 to 22,4±1,36 and 20,8±1,76 (t₁,₂=2.41; p₁,₂<0,05; t₁,₃=2,72; p₁,₃<0,01); in the dumbbell curl– from 31,6±1,49 to 26,9±1,52 and 24,7±1,65 (t₁,₂=2,22; p₁,₂<0,05; t₁,₃=3,12; p₁,₃<0,01); and in the lat pulldown test– from 22,1±1,58 to 17,2±1,44 and 15,8±1,41 repetitions (t₁,₂=2,31; p₁,₂<0,05; t₁,₃=2,99; p₁,₃<0,01). Overall, these findings reflect a periodization-related decline in repeated strength work capacity during the competitive segment and its relative stabilization in the transition period, confirming the practical value of regular monitoring of Men’s Physique bodybuilders’ special fitness using short standardized tests for timely adjustment of the balance between training volume, intensity, and recovery in key phases of the macrocycle