Poor cardiorespiratory fitness in first year medical students at a South African University

ABSTRACTThe personal health behaviours, including physical activity, of healthcare professionals influence their counselling practices as they relate to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, despite the importance of producing healthy, physically active graduates, there are limited data on the physical fitness of future healthcare professionals. This cross-sectional observational study determined the prevalence of below-average fitness in the four components of fitness in first-year university medical students. 152 participants (46 male, 106 female, 20.16 ± 2.69 years) completed cardiorespiratory fitness tests (submaximal step test), flexibility (sit-and-reach test), muscle strength (handgrip), and muscle endurance tests (sit-ups, push-ups). Sex differences were reported using one-way ANOVA or Chi square test and significance was set at p < 0.05. The prevalence (%) of below-average fitness was 69.54% for cardiorespiratory, 25.66% for handgrip strength, 65.79% for sit-ups, 23.03% for push-ups and 7.24% for flexibility. Physical fitness parameters (mean±standard deviation (SD)) were compared between sexes, where it was found that females were more flexible than males (40.61 ± 8.40 cm vs 36.70 ± 9.31 cm, p = 0.012). Males had better handgrip strength (88.96 ± 12.04 kg vs 59.34 ± 10.36 kg, p < 0.001), muscle endurance sit-ups (33.46 ± 9.04 vs 24.48 ± 12.18, p < 0.001) and push-ups (30.28 ± 13.95 vs 24.27 ± 12.35, p = 0.009). First-year medical students have poor physical fitness, notably cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength, which are important markers for NCD risk assessment. Tertiary institutions training healthcare professionals should consider developing interventions to improve students’ physical fitness thereby influencing their health, wellbeing, academic performance and future counselling practices.KEYWORDS: Health behaviourphysical activityaerobicstrengthflexibility Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was partially supported by the International Olympic Committee [Research Grant for IOC Research Center of South Africa].Notes on contributorsJill BorresenJill Borresen, PhD Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI) and IOC Research Centre of South Africa, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.Bert CelieBert Celie, PhD Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI) and IOC Research Centre of South Africa, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.Ria LaubscherRia Laubscher, BCom(Maths) Biostatistics Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, Western Cape, 7505, South Africa.Martin BacMartin Bac, M Fam Med, MD Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.Paola WoodPaola Silvia Wood PhD, Department of Physiology and Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.Tanya CamachoTanya Chantelle de Sousa Camacho, MA Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South AfricaKim NolteKim Nolte, DPhil Department of Physiology and Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South AfricaMarianne SchwellnusMarianne Louise Schwellnus, medical student representative School of Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.Debashis BasuDebashis Basu, PhD Department of Public Health Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South AfricaMartin SchwellnusMartin Peter Schwellnus, MBBCh Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI), University of Pretoria and IOC Research Centre of South Africa, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.