Evaluation of Physical Fitness Profile of Medical Students

Abstract

Background: The physical fitness profile of medical students who are future promoters and educators of health care, is not adequate enough to cope up with the demands of medical profession. The purpose of this study was to assess the physical fitness profile of medical students on the basis of cardiovascular and muscular fitness parameters and to find an association between BMI and cardiorespiratory fitness. Methods: we conducted an observational, analytical study in the Department of Physiology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS), Dehradun, Uttarakhand. We included 60 MBBS students (18-25 years), who volunteered for the study, both males and females studying in HIMS. The anthropometric parameters like Height, Weight, and BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and waist: hip ratio were assessed on day one of the study. On the same day muscular fitness parameters like Sit and reach test, vertical jump test and sit-up test were done. On eighth day, cardiorespiratory fitness parameters in terms of VO2max, was assessed using Beep test, of the same subjects and results recorded. Results: After informed and written consent was taken, 60 students including 30 males and 30 females were assessed. The mean flexibility score in males was -1.73 and in females was 3.6 (p<0.01). The mean number of sit-ups performed by males was 23.2 and by females was 16 (p<0.01). The mean height in cm. that could be reached by males in a vertical jump was 38.33 cm. and by females it was 29.5 cm (p<0.01). The mean value of VO2 max in males was 35.15 ml/kg/min and in females it was 30.00 ml/kg/min. (p<0.01). Conclusion: As educators and promoters of health care, it is important to increase awareness among students so that they become role models for their patients. Our results show that overall health status of our Medical students is not adequate enough. Males had higher aerobic physical fitness as compared to that of females, exception being the flexibility scores which were better in females. Regular physical exercise is known to have beneficial effects on health. Realizing the fact that diseases are related to lack of fitness, a need to counteract a sedentary lifestyle with planned physical activity through sports and formal exercise is required.