Physical Fitness and Physical Activities Profiles of Second-Year Medical Student : Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University

Abstract

To study the level of physical fitness and the physical activities of second-year medical students. There were obtained during the first semester of school year 2000. The subjects in this study were the 227 students from the second-year classes; 120 male and 107 female students. Fitness testing was performed by staff members of the Sports Medicine Unit. The test procedures took approximately 20-30 minutes for each student. A questionnaire concerning of their health, current disease, exercise habits and vital signs was administered at the beginning of the test. The physical fitness-related variables were 1) maximal oxygen consumption; VO₂max (Astrand-Ryhming test protocol), 2) strength and muscular endurance assessment to measure static strength of grip squeezing muscles and leg and back muscles (using isometric dynamometers), 3) flexibility assessment (traditional Sit-and-Reach test protocol), 4) lung function measurement: forced vital capacity (FVC). This study showed that only 8.8% of medical students performed regular exercise. Academic work load and little spare time were substantial obstacles to exercise. Neither males nor females exhibited high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, however, the females in the study showed relatively higher levels than male counterparts; VO₂max 37.25 ± 6.06 ml/kg/min, strength of grip squeezing muscles 0.45 ± 0.07 kg/kg body weight, leg muscle strength 1.57 ± 0.41 kg/kg body weight, flexibility 4.34 ± 9.04 cm, and force vital capacity (FVC) 53.13 ± 9.01 ml/kg body weight for female; and VO₂max 35.74 ± 6.58 ml/kg/min, strength of grip squeezing muscles 0.64 ± 0.11 kg/kg body weight, leg muscles strength 2.35 ± 0.55 kg/kg body weight, flexibility 5.70 ± 8.41 cm and force vital capacity (FVC) 66.99 ± 9.72 ml/kg body weight for male. Both groups (male and female) showed excellent levels of FVC compared with normative Thais standards. However, other fitness-related variables achieved considerably below average values for Thai people of the same age. The finding of relatively low levels of physical fitness among medical students, except for forced vital capacity (FVC), seem to be a reflection of lack of regular physical exercise.