Impact of Squatting on Selected Cardiovascular Parameters Among College Students

Abstract

Squatting is an active posture test used in assessing baroreflex sensitivity and the array of patients a physiotherapist handles, may benefit from this test to avoid the adverse effects of exercise. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the change in cardiovascular parameters that would occur during squatting among undergraduate students. 35 males (mean age = 22.94 ± 1.846) and 40 females (mean age = 22.28 ± 2.075) participated in this experimental study. Demographic data and baseline cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure and heart rate) were taken before exercise. The exercise protocol which was the squatting stress test was done for 2 minutes, after which post exercise blood pressure and heart rate were taken at an interval of one minute each. Paired and independent t-test was used to analyze the difference at 0.05 alpha level. It was found that there was a significant difference between pre and post-exercise blood pressure and heart rate in 1 and 2 minutes (p < 0.001) and also a significant difference in pre-exercise heart rate between lying and standing (p < 0.001). Also, there was no significant difference between 1 minute and 2 minutes post squatting exercise systolic blood pressure (p = 0.588), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.381) and heart rate (p = 0.745). In conclusion, squatting trials among undergraduates revealed some statistically significant changes, especially between the cardiopulmonary parameters obtained in a standing position compared to lying, and those measured after one minute. Therefore, caution should be observed when administering exercises that require changes in posture.