Intercorrelation between adolescent’ physical status and aerobic capacity level

Abstract

Introduction. Insufficient level of schoolchildren physical fitness and physical health determines the relevance of studying of physical qualities development in relation to adolescents’ body aerobic capacity. Purpose: to investigate the correlation between the components of physical state (physical development, fitness, physiological state) of adolescents and levels of aerobic capacity. Methods: Assessment of schoolchildren physical fitness; aerobic capacity determination step-ergometry method. Physical development assessment was carried out with the help of strength indexes, body mass index and Kettle’s, Pignet’s, Hirata’s and Rohrer’s indexes. Matejko’s method was used to determine body composition. The functional state was estimated by using Robinson index, vital capacity index та strength indexes. State of cardiovascular system was discribed using haemodynamic indicators (cardiac output, stroke index, cardiac index, total peripheral resistance, specific peripheral resistance and functional blood circulation indices). Spectral heart rate analysis was performed on the basis of veloergometry results. The study involved 423 adolescents, 211 of them were females and 212 were males. Results. The relationship between body mass index, body fat, all body circumferences and aerobic capacity level in our experiment are directly proportional regardless gender and aerobic capacity level, but need to point our attention on the fact that VO2max is directly proportional to absolute body fat and inversely proportional to body fat % for boys and positive correlations were found between absolute body fat, body fat % and VO2max in girls. It was established that with the increase in the aerobic capacity level, the number of correlations with hemodynamics and functional status indicators of adolescents, both male and female, increases. Our studies have shown that with a decrease of physical performance level, the values of stress index, autonomic rhythm indicator, autonomic balance index, regulation process adequacy ratio increase, which reflects regulatory systems tension increase. In girls, with a decrease in physical performance level, the total heart rate spectrum power decreases, which indicates a decrease in the reserves of regulation. It should be noted that in young men, regardless of aerobic capacity level, heart rate variability indicies did not correlate with VO2max. Conclusions. Physical development indicators, physical fitness, heart rate variability, hemodynamics of adolescents have certain pecularities due to both gender factors and their aerobic performance level. The obtained results can be used to develop differentiated approaches in physical education of students with different aerobic capacity levels.