Robert Podstawski1, Piotr Markowski2, Dariusz Choszcz2, Jarosław Klimczak3
1Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
2Department of Heavy Duty Machines and Research Methodology, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
3Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Department Tourism and Recreation, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
Abstract
Background and Study Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between various forms of physical activities undertaken by students of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn and their body height, body mass, BMI scores and motor abilities.
Materials and Methods. Anthropometric measurements and motor ability tests were performed twice in 2010, at the beginning and at the end of the summer semester, and they involved 337 first-year full-time male students. At the beginning of the academic year, students selected the type of activity they would be involved in during physical education classes. The participants? body height, body mass and BMI were determined. Thirteen tests were carried out in the PE facilities of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn to assess the students? motor abilities.
Results. Taller students opted for volleyball. Students with high body mass and high BMI scores chose less intensive forms of physical activity (golf) and strength-building workouts (bodybuilding, fitness). Slimmer students selected high-intensity activities, including general PE, martial arts, jogging followed by sauna, and volleyball.
Conclusions: The choice of physical activity was correlated with body height, body mass, BMI and motor fitness. Differences in the students? body mass, BMI and motor abilities at the beginning and at the end of the semester were influenced by the type of performed activity. In most motor ability tests, a significant improvement in results was observed in students who had opted for general PE, martial arts, jogging followed by sauna, and volleyball, which suggests that those activities had the most profound influence on the participants? motor fitness.
Keywords: male students ? physical activity ? motor fitness ? anthropometric features ? BMI
Published online: 17 September 2015
Copyright: ? 2015 the Authors. Published by Archives of Budo
Contributors: Robert Podstawski conceived the study design. Robert Podstawski, Jarosław Klimczak collected the data. Robert Podstawski, Piotr Markowski, Dariusz Choszcz analysed the data. Robert Podstawski, Piotr Markowski, Jarosław Klimczak prepared the manuscript. Robert Podstawski, Dariusz Choszcz secured the funding.
Funding: The research has been financed by the University of Warmia & Mazury in Olsztyn.
Conflict of interest: Authors have declared that no competing interest exists
Ethical approval: Not required
Provenance and peer review: Under responsibility of HMA Congress
Corresponding author: Robert Podstawski, Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 7, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland; e-mail: podstawskirobert[at]gmail.com
Open Access License: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and is otherwise in compliance with the license