Aaerobic Capacity of Health Care Students at Riga Stradinš University

Aerobic capacity (AC) is one of health indicators that characterise the functional status of heart, blood vessels, respiratory and other bodily systems. Aerobic capacity depends on several factors: the health conditions, gender, age and the level of physical activities. Students spend many hours in a sitting position in lectures, libraries, when preparing homework, as well as when watching the TV and sitting by the computer. As a result students’ work abilities decrease and the health conditions deteriorate. Health care specialists should be physically active, not only for the sake of their well-being and health conditions, but also they should to be able to motivate their clients to have an active lifestyle.Objective of the research. The objective of the research is to explore aerobic capacity of healthcare students and analyse it within the context of the respective age group population. Aerobic capacity was determined for 730 students (517 women and 213 men in the age group from18 to 30 years) by applying the veloergometry test of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and using veloergometersMonarkErgomedik 839E. Pursuant to the WHO test results during the studies aerobic capacity indicators deteriorated for the majority of students.

THE CHANGES IN AEROBIC WORK CAPACITY OF THE STUDY PROGRAM "HEALTH CARE SPECIALIST" DURING THE ELEVEN YEARS PERIOD

Aerobic work capacity is one of the main indicators of physical fitness and health. Aerobic work capacity depends on many factors, both physical activity level and age and gender and other factors. Aerobic work capacity falls down under the influence of sedentary lifestyle, but it can also decrease as a result of over-intensity loads. Applicants for the study program are young people who have recently graduated from the high school and people of different ages with different sporting experiences. The purpose of the research: to explore applicants aerobic work capacity of Rīga Stradiņš University study program "Health Care Specialist” and their relation to various factors and changes in the dynamics of 11 years. A total of 731 participants (268 males and 473 women) conducted the World Health Organization Bicycle ergometer test. The average level of aerobic work capacity for health care specialist applicants will increase from 2007 to 2013, but declines relatively fast between 2014 and 2017. Over the last 6 years, aerobic work capacity has fallen sharply for men as women. Body mass index does not change significantly over 11 years. The correlation between body mass index and aerobic capacity is weak. Over the last 3 years aerobic work capacity downturn trend has been particularly pronounced for women aged 20- 29.