{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T06:07:47Z","timestamp":1788847667979,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788825600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Evidence comparing functional training with traditional physical education in Chinese high schools is limited. This longitudinal study compared a 36-week functional training program versus standard physical education on fitness and health markers in male adolescents.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Male adolescents (\n                      <jats:italic>N<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f670; aged 16\u201318\u202fyears) from 18 high schools were allocated to a functional training group (FTG,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f351) or traditional physical education group (TPEG,\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f319). Nineteen fitness indicators were assessed at baseline (T1), post-Phase I at 18\u202fweeks (T2), pre-Phase II after summer holiday (T3), and post-Phase II at 36\u202fweeks (T4). Analyses compared T1 vs. T2 (18-week effects) and T1 vs. T4 (36-week effects); T3 served as a pre-Phase II reassessment and was not analyzed as an outcome time point. Linear mixed models (LMMs) with baseline adjustment and school-level random intercepts served as the primary analysis, with t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA as secondary analyses.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      LMMs revealed significant group effects favoring FTG for cardiovascular endurance (resting pulse: \u22122.34\u202fbpm, 95% CI [\u22124.26, \u22120.42], d\u202f=\u202f0.24; 1,000-m run: \u221215.36\u202fs, 95% CI [\u221220.03, \u221210.69], d\u202f=\u202f0.53), muscular strength (1RM squat: +2.81\u202fkg, 95% CI [1.95, 3.67], d\u202f=\u202f0.45; pull-ups: +0.61 reps, 95% CI [0.24, 0.98], d\u202f=\u202f0.21), agility (T-test: \u22120.22\u202fs, 95% CI [\u22120.40, \u22120.04], d\u202f=\u202f0.26), and balance (closed-eye single-leg stance: +21.32\u202fs, 95% CI [10.68, 31.96], d\u202f=\u202f0.41). Time\u00d7group interactions were significant for BMI (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.012), body fat percentage (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.003), lung capacity (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001), 1RM squat (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.001), pull-ups (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.001), and maximum squat repetitions (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.006). Movement quality indicators (FMS) showed significant effects only after 36\u202fweeks, with FTG attenuating the decline in trunk stability (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.026), hurdle steps (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.012), and rotational stability (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.040) compared to TPEG. Body composition showed limited between-group differences at individual time points despite significant interactions.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A 36-week structured progressive exercise program was associated with greater improvements in cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and agility than traditional physical education among male adolescents, with duration-dependent adaptations. However, differential attrition (FTG: 46.7% vs. TPEG: 37.3% at 36\u202fweeks) and the absence of dietary control warrant cautious interpretation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1936635","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T05:35:32Z","timestamp":1788845732000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Comparison of a 36-week functional training program versus traditional physical education on physical fitness in male adolescents: a longitudinal school-based study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Tao","family":"Li","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University","place":["Shanghai, China"]},{"name":"College of Physical Education, Guizhou University","place":["Guiyang, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jianpeng","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Shenzhen Qianhai Harbour Primary School of Shenzhen Qianhai Innovative Education Group","place":["Shenzhen, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jinling","family":"Wei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Computer and Computing Science, Hangzhou City University","place":["Hangzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xiao","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Computer and Computing Science, Hangzhou City University","place":["Hangzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tianjie","family":"Yu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Computer and Computing Science, Hangzhou City University","place":["Hangzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103453","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eclinm.2025.103453","article-title":"Adolescent experiences and exposures: a systematic review of life course outcomes","volume":"88","author":"Banati","year":"2025","journal-title":"EClinicalMedicine"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1209","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-014-0196-4","article-title":"The health benefits of muscular fitness for children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"44","author":"Smith","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2577","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-018-0974-5","article-title":"Cardiorespiratory fitness in childhood and adolescence affects future cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review of longitudinal 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