Physical condition of students who have expressed a desire to engage in athletics

Abstract

The aim of the study is to determine the impact of strength training on the somatic health of male and female students. To achieve the above goal, we used the following methods: analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature, anthropometry, physiometry, pedagogical experiment, and methods of mathematical statistics. The study involved 192 first-year students (130 boys and 62 girls) aged 17-18, who were classified as belonging to the main medical group according to their state of health. To solve the set tasks, pedagogical testing of the level of somatic health was carried out using the method of G. L. Apanasenko. The examination was conducted twice during the academic year: the first time at the beginning of September, the second at the end of December. It was found that regular athletics classes contribute to positive changes in the somatic health of students. There was a significant improvement in the functional state of the body, confirmed by statistically significant changes in vital signs, relative maximum voluntary strength, cardiovascular economy index, and the Ruffier test. Changes in body composition occur without significant fluctuations in body weight, indicating an improvement in body composition, namely an increase in muscle mass with a simultaneous decrease in adipose tissue. The study found that most students have functional reserves of the body's main systems below critical levels. Both girls and boys predominantly have low, below average, and average levels of somatic health. It has been found that athletics training focused on developing strength endurance has the greatest health benefits. Such training helps reduce body fat and improve the functional capacity of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The results obtained indicate the advisability of strength training as a means of improving the somatic health of students.