Evaluation of Selected Physical Fitness Profiles of Academic and Non-Academic Staff of Oyo State College of Education Lanlate, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate selected physical fitness profiles of Academic and Non-Academic Staff of Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate, Nigeria.
 Methodology: The study made use of ex-post facto research design. The population for the study comprised of one hundred and ninety (190) staff that conveniently participated in the study within a span of sixteen weeks. 83 academic staff and 107 non-academic staff constituted the sample for the study which was purposively selected. The components of health fitness (flexibility, muscular endurance and muscular strength), physiological fitness (heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure) and motor fitness (agility, speed and leg power) were assessed using appropriate field tests and instruments.
 Findings: The study revealed that heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure correlated positively with motor fitness of academic and non-academic staff in Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate. The result also showed that flexibility, muscular endurance and muscular strength play a significant role with motor fitness of academic and non-academic staff of Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate. The findings also revealed that academic and non-academic staffs of Oyo State College of Education possess low level of physical fitness.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends that adequate attention should be given to the development and training of motor fitness variables because they contribute significantly to health and physiological variables of the participants in this study. This unique contribution of the findings of this study support the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) that individuals believe they can successfully engage in fitness activities because they have observed others within their social or work environment engaging in fitness-related behaviour and which has influenced their choice of participation.