Physical Fitness Performance of Portuguese and Polish University Students

Abstract

Physical fitness is an important component of health status and education. Concerns on physical fitness improvement were reported on health promotion programs, in particular regarding to childhood and youth. However, little attention has been taken to late adolescence and early adulthood, particularly to University students. PURPOSE: Evaluate and compare the performance level of muscular endurance, muscular strength and flexibility between Portuguese and Polish University students using physical fitness tests. METHODS: 81 students participated voluntarily, from which 36 (25 men and 11 women) were Portuguese (21.2 ± 1.2 y) and 45 (18 men and 27 women) were Polish (19.8 ± 0.5 y). The physical fitness performance between Portuguese and Polish groups was evaluated by the following tests: push-up, sit-up, standing long jump and toe-touch test. Mann-Whitney tests were used to detect differences in performance between groups in the physical fitness tests. RESULTS: Push-up scores were lower for both Portuguese and Polish groups, except for Portuguese females. This trend was particularly evident in Portuguese males (48%) and Polish females (70%). Significant differences (p<0.05) were found between women and men of same groups and between the same gender of different groups. A "poor or very poor" performance for standing long jump was found for Portuguese (86%) and Polish (78%) students, without significant differences between subjects of the same groups and different groups of the same gender. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found for Portuguese and Polish women for sit-up test. Portuguese (72%) and Polish (33%) females obtained the classification of "excellent or above average" in this test. The performance on toe-touch test was better in Polish students, but significant differences (p<0.05) were only found between Portuguese and Polish women. An "excellent or good" performance was found in 36% Portuguese and 78% Polish women. CONCLUSION: A lower upper body muscle strength (push-up) and lower limb explosive strength (long jump) was found for both Portuguese and Polish University students. Given that fitness condition may lead to serious health concerns, these results suggest that effective interventions are needed to improve the physical fitness on these University students.