Resistance training has been shown to improve both health- and skill-related fitness in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects among kettlebells, dumbbells, and non-weight training control groups on changes in muscular strength, muscular endurance, muscular power, body composition, running speed, running agility, and flexibility in adolescents. Thirty-five participants (aged 12 to-17 years) completed both pre-test and post-test measures and attended the minimum 70% of the training sessions. All outcomes were assessed prior to the start of the training program and immediately after eight weeks of resistance training and included a three-repetition maximum (3RM) bench press, 3RM leg press, total number of repetitions with 95 pounds, timed single-leg wall sit and summed, BodPod, vertical jump, long jump, 40-yard dash, Pro Agility test, and sit-and-reach. Maturity was assessed using estimated age at peak height velocity. An ANCOVA controlling for the baseline value and maturity showed improvements for the 3RM bench press (p = 0.018) and the timed single-leg wall sit (p = 0.041). These findings show that improvements occurred only in one mode of resistance training and non-traditional modes of resistance training may need a longer training duration to elicit improvements in outcome variables.
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