ANTHROPOMETRY AND PHYSICAL FITNESS OF FIRST AND SECOND YEAR PHYSIOTHERAPY STUDENTS / ANTHROPOMETRIE ET APTITUDE PHYSIQUE DE ÉTUDIANTS EN PHYSIOTHÉRAPIE DE PREMIÈRE ET DEUXIÈME ANNÉE

Authors

  • L. Chapelle Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
  • E. Guettard Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
  • A. Vanroelen Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
  • E. Zinzen Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Free University of Brussels, Belgium

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejpe.v0i0.2572

Keywords:

Eurofit test battery, physiotherapy students, anthropometry, physical fitness / batterie de test Eurofit, étudiants en physiothérapie, mesures anthropométriques, forme physique

Abstract

Objectives: To objectively examine changes in anthropometric measurements (i.e. stature, body weight, BMI and fat percentage) and physical fitness (using the Eurofit test battery) of Physiotherapy students during their first and second university year. Equipment and methods: Anthropometric measurements and physical fitness, in accordance with the Eurofit test battery protocol, of 431 Physiotherapy students were determined over 6 years and compared separately for male and female students using paired samples t-tests. Results: The anthropometric measures significantly increased for both the male and female students. Both the male and the female students performed significantly worse in their second year of university on the Sit And Reach whilst performing significantly better on Handgrip Strength. The male students performed significantly better on the Flamingo Balance Test whilst performing significantly worse on the Bent Arm Hang in their second university year. Conclusion: The anthropometric measures of the Physiotherapy students got significantly worse after one year of university despite having mandatory sports classes. The physical fitness examination generated mixed results. Recommendations should be made to increase the number of hours of physical education in all university courses to improve the anthropometric measures as well as the physical fitness of these students.

 

Objectif : Examiner de manière objective les modifications des mesures anthropométriques (taille, poids corporel, IMC et pourcentage de graisse) et de la forme physique des étudiants en physiothérapie au cours de leurs première et deuxième années universitaires (à l’aide de la batterie de test Eurofit). Matériels et méthodes : Les mesures anthropométriques et la forme physique, conformément au protocole de la batterie de tests Eurofit, de 431 étudiants en physiothérapie ont été effectuées sur une période de 6 ans et comparées séparément pour les hommes et les femmes en utilisant des tests t sur échantillons appariés. Résultats : Les mesures anthropométriques ont clairement augmenté aussi bien pour les étudiants que pour les étudiantes. Les étudiants et les étudiantes ont obtenu des résultats bien moins bons lors de leur deuxième année d'université durant le Sit and Reach, tout en obtenant de meilleurs résultats avec la force de préhension. Les étudiants ont obtenus de meilleurs résultats durant les exercices de Flamingo Balance tandis qu'ils obtenaient de moins bons résultats durant les exercices de Bent Arm Hang durant leur seconde année d'université. Conclusion : Les mesures anthropométriques des étudiants en physiothérapie se sont considérablement dégradées après une année d'université, malgré l'obligation de suivre des cours de sport. L'examen de la condition physique a donné des résultats mitigés. Des recommandations devraient être faites pour augmenter le nombre d'heures d'éducation physique dans tous les cours universitaires afin d'améliorer les mesures anthropométriques ainsi que la forme physique de ces étudiants.

 

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Published

2019-08-14

Issue

Vol 5, No 11 (2019)

Section

Articles

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