Analysis of cardiorespiratory fitness of 9-11 year old primary school children in Nigeria using blood pressure and vital capacity

Abstract

The skeletal muscle has the ability to extract and use oxygen for generation of energy to perform physical activities. This ability is referred to as cardiorespiratory fitness. The variables measured in this study were resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, vital capacity and forced vital capacity. Four hypotheses tested at 0.05 alpha level. There were significant differences between the participants and the standard norms in all the variables studied in this research. Resting systolic blood pressure (t-Cal= 190.576 > t-Crit.=2.021, P<0.05); Resting diastolic blood pressure (t- Cal=51.951> t-Crit.=2.01, P<0.05); Vital Capacity (t-Cal=- 31.527> t-Crit. = 2.021, P<0.05); Forced Vital Capacity (t- Cal=13.951 > t-Crit. = 2.021, P<0.05); Generally, it was observed that the cardiorespiratory fitness level of the participants was low despite the significant difference in the variables when compared to the standard norm. A programme should be designed to encourage children to lose weight in a healthy manner, thus reducing their BMI and improve their physical fitness, and general wellbeing. Parents should guide the pupils to spend less time on computer games and encourage active physical exercises in form of trekking to school where possible, in order to enhance their cardiorespiratory fitness.