Determination of first year students’ physical condition and physical fitness level

Purpose: to study and find out first year students’ physical condition and physical fitness levels. Material: n the research first year students (n=86) participated. The age of the participants was 16 – 19 years. They passed the following tests for physical fitness: 100 meters’ run; run during 12 minutes; long jump from the spot; chin ups; torso rising from lying to sitting position during 1 minute; forward torso bending from sitting position, cm. Results: it was found that 41% of students have low and below average levels of physical condition and 76.35% - the same physical fitness level (unsatisfactory). So we came to conclusion that it was necessary to review the existing approaches to physical education system. It is recommended to increase the volume of compulsory classes of students’ motor functioning at the cost of the following: usage of optional classes; physical exercises’ practicing in free time; everyday motor activity in the form of morning exercises and sport games. Conclusions: the main reasons of students’ physical condition and physical fitness weakening during their studying are: restricted quantity of academic physical education classes; absence of students’ demand in systemic physical exercises’ practicing; students’ low motivation for physical education; absence of interest in physical exercises’ practicing in free time; students’ health worsening before entering higher educational establishment; imperfectness of school physical education.


Introduction 1
Students' physical condition depends on their physical fitness. Physical fitness is a complex of different physical qualities (strength, quickness, endurance, dexterity and flexibility) and it is gradually worsening. The reasons of it are: irrational distribution of time for study and rest; immobile life style.
Many authors state that the temps of students' physical fitness increment are noticeably reduced [5,8,12,16]. It was found that more than 84.8% of boys and 81.1% of girls have average physical fitness level (satisfactory) [25,26].
Analysis of scientific works shows that there is deficit of students' motor functioning. It results in students' physical condition and physical fitness problems [4,6,14,17]. This fact permits to say that selection of physical loads' means and its regulation at trainings shall be realized in compliance with levels of students' physical condition and fitness [13,20,21].
The purpose of the research was to study and find out first year students' physical condition and physical fitness levels.

Material and methods
Participants: In the research first year students (n=86) participated. The age of the participants was 16 -19 years. By results of medical examination all students were related to main health group (no health deviations).
Organization of the research: we offered special individual chart of physical potentials for assessments of first year students' physical condition and physical fitness. This chart consisted of two parts. First part included physiological test exercises from physical education program: the Quetelet index. Mass-height the Quetelet index (QI) shall be calculated by formula: where BM is body mass (grams); L -body length in standing position (cm). Heart beats rate (HBR, b.p.m.). HBR is measured after 5 minutes rest. HBR in rest is the following: ≥ 100low; 90 -below average; 71-89 -average; 61-70 -above average; ≤ 60 -high [9,11].
For determination Rouffier's index [9, 11] heart beats rate values (HBR): pulse in different moments of recreation after physical loads. It is necessary during 15 second to count pulse after 5 minutes' rest, in sitting position (Р1). Then the tested fulfills 30 squats during 45 seconds. Pulse shall be measured in first minute of recreation period: during first 15 seconds (Р2) and in the last 15 seconds (Р3). Results are calculated by the following formula: We also analyzed the results of Shtange's test. This test with pause after inhale shall be fulfilled in the following way: Student fulfills three breaths at ¾ of full breath. The breath is stopped after full inhale. Nose is closed with a clip or fingers. Pause time is registered by stopwatch. Shtange's test is assessed by the following indicators: low -40 sec; below average -50 sec.; average -55 sec.; above average -65 sec. and high -75 sec. [9,11].
Other part consisted of control tests of physical education academic program. Physical fitness was found with the help of the following exercises: for quickness (100 meters' run); for endurance (12 minutes' run); strength (chin ups and torso rising from lying position to sitting); speed-power (long jump from the spot); for flexibility (forward torso bending in sitting position (see table 1) [7,11]. Students practiced physical education only at curriculum classes, twice a week, 90 minutes every lesson. All control exercises (tests) for motor abilities were conducted in main part of physical culture lessons.
Statistical analysis: the results were processed with the help of non parametric statistic's methods. Student's t-test was used for evaluation of statistical significance of the received results. Null hypothesis was tested.

Results
The fulfilled study of weight-height Quetelet index (QI) permitted to state that by anthropological indicators students did not differ noticeably. By QI indicators students were distributed into the following levels: low level-14%; below average level -26%, average level -38% and higher than average -16%. 6% of boys had high level.
Analysis of results showed that 14% of students had body mass deficit or excessive mass. Low body mass index is accompanied by risk of cardio-vascular diseases or diabetes [18].
The received results showed that students had confidently higher mean HBR in rest (p<0.01, 61%). We registered the following: below average values in 15% of students; 7% of students had low level. HBR less than 60 b.p.m. are called bradycardia. HBR higher than 80 b.p.m. are called tachycardia. They often are the symptoms of many pathological states.
First level (excellent) has index < 3.0, characterized by high level of physical fitness. No students with such level were found. The second level (good) has index 4-6, with physical fitness level above average. Percentage of it was 10%. The third level (satisfactory) had index 7-10, which corresponds to average level of physical fitness. As per our study 28% of students belong to this category. The forth level (bad) had index 10-14. It corresponds to level below average (weakened level of functional systems). This level dominates (48%). The fifth level (very bad) has index > 15. It corresponds to very low physical fitness level (sharp reduction of functional systems' potentials). In 14% of boys we found low levels of workability and cardio-vascular system's state.
By Shtange's test high endurance was registered in 8% of students. This indicator was the least, comparing with other. Indicator "above average" was found in 21% and average level -in 32% of students. Tests for breath pause showed that 26% of students had level below average. 13% had low indicator. It witnesses about unsatisfactory respiratory system's state. The results of students' physical fitness assessment are given in table 2.
Physical fitness (PF) is one of the most important directions of students' physical education. Physical fitness testing showed confidently significant indicators of students (see table 3).
Analysis of the received results showed the highest results in power exercises in 8% of students (chin ups more than 12 times). In other exercises (for quickness, endurance, strength and flexibility) we registered low indicators. Analysis of table 3 indicators in 100 meters' run showed the following levels: 5% high level; 4% -above average; 12% -average; 18% -below average and low level -61%.
In exercise for strength (chin ups on high horizontal bar) shows the following: 8% -high level; 5% -above average; 12% average level; 18% -below average and 57% low level.
In exercise for flexibility (forward bending in sitting position) the results were as follows: 2% level above average; 9% -average level; 18% -below average level and 71% -low level. The main reason of low efficiency is absence of special physical qualities in students.
We found that for 4 months of academic year a number of vitally important physical condition's functional indicators reduced: Rouffier's test -62%, Shtange's test -39%. Besides, the tendency to reduction of indicators was detected in the following: 100 m run (79% had below average and low levels)l 12 minutes run -(75% had below average and low levels); long jump from the spot 70% had below average and low levels; chin ups 75% -below average and low levels; torso rising in sitting position from lying -71% -below average and low levels; forward torso bending in sitting position -89% had below average and low levels.
Thus, control testing showed negative dynamic of students' physical fitness (those, who trained once in two weeks by traditional program).

Discussion
Results of our studies prove and supplement the data of different authors about dynamic of students' physical condition and physical fitness weakening [5,16]. We found low levels of long jump from the spot (38%) and Rouffier's test (14%) indicators. It is a proof of other researches' results about reduction of these indicators [1, 2]. Our research also proves the data of authors [15,19], about Quetelet index's correspondence to normosthenic body composition. Besides, there are cases of body mass deficit or excessive body mass. We agree with the author that students' physical qualities reduce [3]. In our work we also found low indicators: "quickness" -61%; "endurance" -55%; "speed-power qualities" -38% and "flexibility" -71%.
Our data supplement information of authors [5, 8, 12, 16] about low dynamic of students' physical condition and fitness during all period of study. We found that students' physical condition (41%) and physical fitness (76.35%) were at low and below average levels. Thus we confirm the data of other research about satisfactory levels [25].
The received by us data prove the following: acuteness of problem of students' motor deficit [4, 6, 14, 17]; search of methods of students' physical condition and fitness improvement [13, 21,27].
In our opinion the main reasons of students' weak physical condition and fitness during their study are the following: limited quantity of curriculum physical culture lessons; absence of students' demand in systemic physical exercises' practicing; students' low motivation for physical education; absence of interest in physical culture in free time; health worsening before entering university; imperfectness of school physical education process.

Conclusions
Worsening of students' physical condition and physical fitness witnesses that there is need in reviewing of the existing approaches to organization of physical education system. It is necessary to enlarge the volume of compulsory physical education classes. It can be realized at the account of the following: optional classes; physical culture practicing in free time; everyday morning exercises, sport games.