Impact of Physical Education on Peculiarities of Functional State of 18-22 Year Old Female Students’ Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the age-related peculiarities of the functional state of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of 1st-5th year female students of a higher education institution. Materials and methods. The study participants were 200 female students: 1st year (n = 44); 2nd year (n = 38); 3rd year (n = 42); 4th year (n = 44); 5th year (n = 32). To solve the tasks set, the following research methods were used: analysis of scientific-methodological and medical literature, pedagogical observation, index method, medical and biological methods, ascertaining experiment, and methods of mathematical statistics.  Results. The study found that at the age of 19 there is a significant deterioration in the results of breathhold in the Stange test (49 s) and the Genchi test (38 s) (P < 0.05). At the age of 21, there is a decrease in the Ruffier index (12.4 – “satisfactory”) and the average heart rate after exercise (f1 = 34.7), while there is a decrease in heart rate (f2 = 25.8) after a standard recovery pause (P < 0.05). This indicates that during this period, there occur the most successful compensatory processes of cardiovascular activity. At 21-22 (4th-5th years of study), there is an increase in heart rate before exercise (f0), and the Stange test result improves.  Conclusions. The results of comparative analysis show that with age the number of female students with a “satisfactory” result of the Ruffier index increases (59.4%), and a “good” heart result decreases (15.6%). At the age of 21, women have better heart rate, and at 22, they have better results in breath-holding under hypoxia.