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Assessment of Physical Fitness and Its Association with Sympathetic Activation Among the Students of Pokhara University, Nepal

Received: 16 September 2020     Accepted: 5 October 2020     Published: 13 October 2020
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Abstract

A 3-minute step test provides a feasible, low cost procedure with minimal risk to the participant for assessing physical fitness compared to maximal exercise testing. Test assessing the autonomic function (sympathetic wing) evaluates the cardiovascular reflex like increased blood pressure triggered by performing specific stimulating maneuvers such as Isometric Hand Grip Test (IHGT). We assessed & categorized the fitness level using a 3 min step test and its association with sympathetic activation during IHGT in university level students with sound health. There is increasing evidence of an association between Physical Fitness and academic performance. Two hundred consenting healthy students studying at Pokhara University (largest in western region of Nepal) aged 17-25 years underwent sub-maximal exercise as per the protocol of 3 min-step test given by Young Man’s Christian Associations (YMCA) to categorize as good & poor being based on recovery heart rate. Each groups undertook IHGT & changes in Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) were noted. About two third of the study participants were female and 70% of total students were of poor fitness level. Fitness level and sex was significantly associated (P=0.041, OR=1.92, CI=1.024- 3.606). More of the male participants had good fitness in comparison to that of the female participants (38.9% vs 24.8%). Differences in Diastolic Blood Pressure during IHGT and at rest (assess sympathetic activation during stress) was significantly associated with fitness level (P<0.001, OR=1.32, CI=1.201-1.446). Majority of university level students had poor fitness with high proportion in female. Students with good fitness level had good sympathetic activation to physical stress as compared to those with poor fitness level. Physical fitness (Cardiorespiratory fitness) is proven to induce angiogenesis in the motor cortex and increases blood flow, improving brain vascularization which could affect cognitive performance. So measuring physical fitness of university students at the time of admission or during the study period could help to predict their academic achievements through their reasoning function and ability of coping various stresses that they might encounter during academic journey. Those with poor physical fitness would be advised to improve the fitness by promoting physical activity.

Published in European Journal of Preventive Medicine (Volume 8, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ejpm.20200805.15
Page(s) 83-90
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Physical Fitness, Academic Performance, University Students, Autonomic Response, 3 Min-step Test, Isometric Hand Grip Test, Nepal

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Bijay Subedi, Bishwas Subedi, Sapana Bhandari, Sabin Poudel, Khem Raj Joshi. (2020). Assessment of Physical Fitness and Its Association with Sympathetic Activation Among the Students of Pokhara University, Nepal. European Journal of Preventive Medicine, 8(5), 83-90. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20200805.15

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    ACS Style

    Bijay Subedi; Bishwas Subedi; Sapana Bhandari; Sabin Poudel; Khem Raj Joshi. Assessment of Physical Fitness and Its Association with Sympathetic Activation Among the Students of Pokhara University, Nepal. Eur. J. Prev. Med. 2020, 8(5), 83-90. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20200805.15

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    AMA Style

    Bijay Subedi, Bishwas Subedi, Sapana Bhandari, Sabin Poudel, Khem Raj Joshi. Assessment of Physical Fitness and Its Association with Sympathetic Activation Among the Students of Pokhara University, Nepal. Eur J Prev Med. 2020;8(5):83-90. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20200805.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ejpm.20200805.15,
      author = {Bijay Subedi and Bishwas Subedi and Sapana Bhandari and Sabin Poudel and Khem Raj Joshi},
      title = {Assessment of Physical Fitness and Its Association with Sympathetic Activation Among the Students of Pokhara University, Nepal},
      journal = {European Journal of Preventive Medicine},
      volume = {8},
      number = {5},
      pages = {83-90},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ejpm.20200805.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20200805.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejpm.20200805.15},
      abstract = {A 3-minute step test provides a feasible, low cost procedure with minimal risk to the participant for assessing physical fitness compared to maximal exercise testing. Test assessing the autonomic function (sympathetic wing) evaluates the cardiovascular reflex like increased blood pressure triggered by performing specific stimulating maneuvers such as Isometric Hand Grip Test (IHGT). We assessed & categorized the fitness level using a 3 min step test and its association with sympathetic activation during IHGT in university level students with sound health. There is increasing evidence of an association between Physical Fitness and academic performance. Two hundred consenting healthy students studying at Pokhara University (largest in western region of Nepal) aged 17-25 years underwent sub-maximal exercise as per the protocol of 3 min-step test given by Young Man’s Christian Associations (YMCA) to categorize as good & poor being based on recovery heart rate. Each groups undertook IHGT & changes in Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) were noted. About two third of the study participants were female and 70% of total students were of poor fitness level. Fitness level and sex was significantly associated (P=0.041, OR=1.92, CI=1.024- 3.606). More of the male participants had good fitness in comparison to that of the female participants (38.9% vs 24.8%). Differences in Diastolic Blood Pressure during IHGT and at rest (assess sympathetic activation during stress) was significantly associated with fitness level (P<0.001, OR=1.32, CI=1.201-1.446). Majority of university level students had poor fitness with high proportion in female. Students with good fitness level had good sympathetic activation to physical stress as compared to those with poor fitness level. Physical fitness (Cardiorespiratory fitness) is proven to induce angiogenesis in the motor cortex and increases blood flow, improving brain vascularization which could affect cognitive performance. So measuring physical fitness of university students at the time of admission or during the study period could help to predict their academic achievements through their reasoning function and ability of coping various stresses that they might encounter during academic journey. Those with poor physical fitness would be advised to improve the fitness by promoting physical activity.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessment of Physical Fitness and Its Association with Sympathetic Activation Among the Students of Pokhara University, Nepal
    AU  - Bijay Subedi
    AU  - Bishwas Subedi
    AU  - Sapana Bhandari
    AU  - Sabin Poudel
    AU  - Khem Raj Joshi
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ejpm.20200805.15
    T2  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    JF  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    JO  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    SP  - 83
    EP  - 90
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8230
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20200805.15
    AB  - A 3-minute step test provides a feasible, low cost procedure with minimal risk to the participant for assessing physical fitness compared to maximal exercise testing. Test assessing the autonomic function (sympathetic wing) evaluates the cardiovascular reflex like increased blood pressure triggered by performing specific stimulating maneuvers such as Isometric Hand Grip Test (IHGT). We assessed & categorized the fitness level using a 3 min step test and its association with sympathetic activation during IHGT in university level students with sound health. There is increasing evidence of an association between Physical Fitness and academic performance. Two hundred consenting healthy students studying at Pokhara University (largest in western region of Nepal) aged 17-25 years underwent sub-maximal exercise as per the protocol of 3 min-step test given by Young Man’s Christian Associations (YMCA) to categorize as good & poor being based on recovery heart rate. Each groups undertook IHGT & changes in Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) were noted. About two third of the study participants were female and 70% of total students were of poor fitness level. Fitness level and sex was significantly associated (P=0.041, OR=1.92, CI=1.024- 3.606). More of the male participants had good fitness in comparison to that of the female participants (38.9% vs 24.8%). Differences in Diastolic Blood Pressure during IHGT and at rest (assess sympathetic activation during stress) was significantly associated with fitness level (P<0.001, OR=1.32, CI=1.201-1.446). Majority of university level students had poor fitness with high proportion in female. Students with good fitness level had good sympathetic activation to physical stress as compared to those with poor fitness level. Physical fitness (Cardiorespiratory fitness) is proven to induce angiogenesis in the motor cortex and increases blood flow, improving brain vascularization which could affect cognitive performance. So measuring physical fitness of university students at the time of admission or during the study period could help to predict their academic achievements through their reasoning function and ability of coping various stresses that they might encounter during academic journey. Those with poor physical fitness would be advised to improve the fitness by promoting physical activity.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • School of Health & Allied Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pokhara University, Pokhara, Nepal

  • School of Public Health and Community Medicine, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal

  • School of Health & Allied Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pokhara University, Pokhara, Nepal

  • School of Health & Allied Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pokhara University, Pokhara, Nepal

  • School of Health & Allied Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pokhara University, Pokhara, Nepal

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