Khairul Usman, Winara Winara, Fajar Sidik Siregar, M. Irfan, Alan Alfiansyah Putra Karo-Karo, Randi Kurniawan
Background: Cardiovascular endurance among young adults is declining due to low engagement in conventional training. Culture-based physical training offers a promising alternative. However, empirical evidence remains limited. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured Nias culture-based physical training program incorporating Fate’u and Fasukhu activities in improving cardiovascular endurance among young adults. Methods: A 12-week pre–post quasi-experimental study was conducted with 120 students (18–22 years) selected through purposive sampling and allocated into two groups: the Nias Culture-Based Physical Training (NCBPT) group and a conventional group (CG) that maintained their usual daily physical activities. Participants performed (NCBPT) three times per week (30–60 minutes/session). Cardiovascular endurance was assessed using the 20-m shuttle run test. Between-group differences in pre-post changes were analyzed using an independent samples t-test. Results: Each group improved cardiovascular endurance, with the NCBPT group showing greater gains (Δ = 6.16, 21.6%, Cohen's d = 1.02) than the conventional group (Δ = 1.20, 4.2%, Cohen's d = 0.94). These results indicate that the NCBPT program was significantly more effective in enhancing aerobic capacity than conventional physical activities. Conclusions: The NCBPT program demonstrated superior effectiveness in enhancing cardiovascular endurance compared to the control condition. This approach offers a practical and culturally relevant training strategy for improving aerobic fitness in sports and educational contexts. © 2026 The Author(s).
Department of Elementary School Teacher Education, Faculty of Education, Universitas Negeri Medan, Sumatera Utara, Kota Medan, 20221, Indonesia; Department of Physical Education, Health and Recreation, Faculty of Sport Science, Universitas Negeri Medan, Sumatera Utara, Kota Medan, 20221, Indonesia; Department of Physical Education, Health and Recreation, Sekolah Tinggi Olahraga dan Kesehatan Bina Guna, Sumatera Utara, Kota Medan, 20241, Indonesia; Department of Sports Science, Faculty of Sports Science, Universitas Negeri Medan, Medan, Indonesia
