Long-term changes in physical fitness components determining the motor performance of young people studying physiotherapy in 2001–2020

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess changes in basic somatic features and motor components of physical fitness of physiotherapy students in the years 2001–2020. Hypotheses were made about the lack of a secular trend in body height and weight, the deterioration of motor efficiency and the lack of conditioning of the examined changes by social factors. Every year, students of physiotherapy at Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland) were examined in terms of height, weight, chest circumference, balance, speed, power, agility and endurance. The results were obtained from 1161 female students and 464 male students. There was weight gain in the group of women (R2 = 0.41, p = 0.00314), deterioration of speed (for women R2 = 0.579, p = 0.001; for men R2 = 0.301, p = 0.0185) and deterioration of power (for women R2 = 0.51, p = 0.001, p = 0.001; for men R2 = 0.0432, p = 0.00303). The stability of the remaining features was also found, as well as the lack of their conditioning by social factors. Predictors of maintaining motor fitness were identified, i.e. male gender, fitness exam qualifying for studies and chest circumference. The creation of conditions and requirements encouraging greater care for the appropriate level of motor fitness of people undertaking physiotherapy studies seems justified. This observation may apply to other academia providing training for the profession of physiotherapist.

“Secular trends (2001–2020) in physical fitness as a health component in physiotherapy students from Bydgoszcz (Poland)”

“…The assessment of the relationships of changes in the average annual values of the examined characteristics between women and men, with the exception of three characteristics, showed similar trends, which indicates similar reactions of the organisms of men and women to exogenous factors occurring during the course of studies. These and the previously presented research results are consistent with the observation of physical fitness components supporting motor achievements 19 . Thus, the lack of similarity in the changes in the average annual values of the observed characteristics between women and men was negatively verified, and the differences in the functional strength trends are probably related to the moderate mass gain in women, with a relative stability of this characteristic in men.…”

“…Table 1 summarizes the sizes of the studied groups of students and the values of basic somatic features 19 . The descriptive statistics indicate that in all years of observation, women accounted for significantly larger shares of the sample, with slightly lower average ages and standard deviations.…”

“…At the end of each year of the observation, the body height and mass were measured. These results and socioeconomic characteristics, as well as the basic information about the study process presented above, were used in the article on the components of physical fitness conducive to achieving motor achievements 19 . The division of the material into two studies was dictated by indications for a new, instrumental (heterotelic) interpretation of the results of physical fitness testing proposed by a large group of EUROFIT authors, as well as Polish authorities on human motor skills research 20 , 23 .…”

“…Research on the motor development of physiotherapy students shows that their fitness differs from that of students at physical education universities and other universities involved in education in this field. Some of its components deteriorate 16 – 19 . However, most of scientific reports on changes in physical fitness result from cross-sectional and comparative studies and less often from long-term studies of secular trends.…”

“…Based on numerous reports about the deteriorating health of young generations, especially in relation to obesity, and negative changes in physical fitness, also found in the components supporting motor achievements of the currently studied group 19 , a hypothesis was put forwards about the occurrence of secular trends towards an increase in the thickness of skinfolds, especially among women, the deterioration of the results of fitness tests and the lack of conditioning of the examined changes with socioeconomic factors. It was also assumed that the directions of secular trends of the examined characteristics in male students would be similar to those among female students.…”