Cardio-respiratory fitness markers among Kenyan university students using a 20m shuttle run test (SRT)

K Magutah

doi:10.4314/ahs.v13i1.2

Abstract

To assess Cardio-respiratory fitness (CF) markers among university students using a 20m shuttle run test (SRT). Markers of CF were assessed in 80 males aged 21.4±1.8 years, randomly selected from Moi University, Kenya. Assessed at different stages of SRT protocol included heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP & DBP). VO2max was also determined. Data were analyzed using Stata v10. Comparisons were based on subjects exercise regimes. Subjects with either regular or irregular regimes attained lower HR in 4(th) minute of SRT compared to non-exercise group (174.5±11.6 and 172.2±10.8 vs 182.8±6.8 b/m; p=0.04 and p=0.01 respectively). Lower HRs were maintained among irregularly exercising after 5(th) minute (176.5±10.1 vs 186.7±6.3 b/m; p=0.02). Regularly exercising subjects obtained lowest DBP at exhaustion compared to irregular and non-exercising (58.58±15.0, 62.43±12.9 and 64.1±8.8 mmhg respectively). VO2maxpredictors included year of study (r=-0.40), age (r=-0.41) and weight (r=-0.23). The regularly exercising had higher VO2max than irregular (p<0.01) and non-exercising (p<0.001). No demonstrable difference in VO2max existed between irregular and non-exercise subjects. Exercise regimes should be emphasized amongst university students, albeit with less regard to regularity, which should be encouraged for those in higher study years and those with higher DBP at exhaustion.

Highlights

Physical fitness (PF) is crucial to health among all age brackets, with benefits such as maintenance of lipid profile, regulation of blood pressure (BP) and control of cardiovascular ailments.[1,2,3] Various valid techniques for its assessment exist and include measurement of physiological markers of BP, heart rate (HR) and aerobic capacity - percentage of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)
The baseline descriptive bio-demographic characteristics of the 80 subjects in the current study are summarized in table 1
The present study found that only in the 4th and 5th minute of the shuttle run test (SRT) protocol was there a difference in the HR means among the groups

Summary

Introduction

Physical fitness (PF) is crucial to health among all age brackets, with benefits such as maintenance of lipid profile, regulation of blood pressure (BP) and control of cardiovascular ailments.[1,2,3] Various valid techniques for its assessment exist and include measurement of physiological markers of BP, heart rate (HR) and aerobic capacity - percentage of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). These markers are crucial in assessment of cardio-respiratory fitness (CF). The doubly labelled water calorimetry, which gives a direct determination of VO2max, is time consuming and requires expensive equipment as well as highly trained technicians, and is further impracticable for use with large groups.[5, 6] Field

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