Pre–Post Changes in Isokinetic Muscle Function and Anaerobic Performance Following a 12-Week Conditioning Program in National-Team Modern Pentathlon Athletes

The purpose of this study was to examine pre–post changes in isokinetic muscle function and anaerobic performance following a 12-week physical conditioning program in male and female national-level modern pentathlon athletes. Thirteen national-team modern pentathlon athletes (7 males and 6 females) participated in this single-group pre–post study. Male and female athletes were analyzed separately to evaluate within-gender pre–post changes. The 12-week conditioning program consisted of resistance training, aerobic–anaerobic interval weight training, circuit training, and obstacle training. Isokinetic knee flexor and extensor strength was assessed bilaterally at angular velocities of 60°·s−1 and 180°·s−1 using an isokinetic dynamometer. Anaerobic performance was evaluated using the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT), including peak power, mean power, relative power output, and fatigue index. Pre- and post-training values were compared using paired t-tests. Among the male athletes, descriptive increases were observed in bilateral knee flexor and extensor strength at both angular velocities, except for decreases in hamstring-to-quadriceps ratios. In female athletes, most isokinetic strength variables showed descriptive decreases, whereas peak power increased slightly. In the Wingate test, male athletes showed descriptive decreases in absolute peak and mean power, with minimal increases in relative peak and mean power. Female athletes demonstrated descriptive increases in peak power and fatigue index, whereas mean power and relative mean power decreased. However, none of the measured variables demonstrated statistically significant pre–post differences (all p > 0.05). These findings indicate that no statistically significant pre–post changes in isokinetic muscle function or anaerobic performance were identified following the 12-week physical conditioning program. Further studies with larger sample sizes and controlled study designs are warranted to better characterize physiological adaptations associated with intensive conditioning programs in national-level modern pentathlon athletes.