Informative Indicators of Functional and Motor Fitness of Students of Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

The study objective was to determine informative indicators of functional and motor fitness of 1^st-5^th year students. Materials and methods. The study involved male students of 1^st year (n = 67), 2^nd year (n = 66), 3^rd year (n = 62), 4^th year (n = 45), 5^th year (n = 56). The following research methods were used to solve the tasks set: analysis of scientific literature, pedagogical observation, pedagogical testing; index method and medical-biological methods. Pedagogical methods were used to study the peculiarities of functional state of the body and motor abilities of 1^st-5^th year students of higher education institutions; factor analysis was used for data processing. Results. By the Ruffier index, the 1^st-2^nd year students have an average heart performance. The 3^rd-5^th year students have a satisfactory heart performance. By the results of the Stange and Genci tests, the 1^st-5^th year students are evaluated as healthy and fit. According to the Romberg test, the 1^st and 5^th year students show higher results than the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th year students (p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.006, respectively). The 3^rd year students have the lowest results. The test results are estimated as lower than normal. Conclusions. The analysis of motor and functional fitness of the 1^st-5^th year students showed that the first factor in their structure is the functional state of the respiratory system, the second factor is speed strength and strength fitness. The most informative tests are: 1^st year – the Stange test (0.822) and Genci test (0.741); 2^nd year – the Genci test (0.758), the Ruffier index has the lowest informativity (0.11); 3^rd year – “Standing long jump” (0.741) and the Genci test (0.723); 4^th year – the Stange test (0.927) and Genci test (0.810); 5^th year – the Stange test (0.799).