Description
Aerobic capacity is one of the objective indicators of the physical fitness level and overall state of health of any person and future physiotherapist. The aim is to analyze the aerobic capacity of physiotherapy students and its correlation with physical activities. . A total of 85.7% (n=91) Rīga Stradiņš University study programme “Physiotherapy” 1. and 2. course students (n=78; 85.9% female 22.2±5.5 years and 14.1% male 20.6±3.6 years) were analyzed. The study was done in 2022 from April to May. The World Health Organization test was used to determine aerobic capacity. It was performed on the cycle ergometer “Monark Ergomedic 839E”. The physical activities were determined using questions, that were conducted from a study which was done by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia “Health Behaviour among the Latvian Adult Population”. Descriptive statistical methods, Spearman correlation analysis, and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used for data processing.. Aerobic capacity on average is VO2max 33.6±5.5 ml/kg/min for female students and 39.3±7.8 ml/kg/min for male students and is considered below average. Aerobic capacity is below average in 68% of students, average and good in 32%, but very good and excellent in none of the students. Good aerobic capacity is only seen in those students who have hard physical training or competitions more often than once a week. Physical activities that are at least 30 min long with mild shortness of breath or sweating have a significant correlation (r=0.418; p<0.001) with aerobic capacity. The correlation between aerobic capacity and the time spent walking or cycling to work/educational institutions is very weak and not significant (r=0.068; p=0.612).. Most students’ aerobic capacity is below average, but for students whose aerobic capacity is good, it mainly depends on the volume of sufficiently high-intensity physical activities (to mild shortness of breath or sweating).| Period | 29 Mar 2023 → 31 Mar 2023 |
|---|---|
| Event title | RSU Research week 2023: Society. Health. Welfare |
| Event type | Conference |
| Conference number | 9 |
| Organiser | Rīga Stradiņš University |
| Location | Riga, LatviaShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |