Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: October | Volume: 9 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 183-188
Effect of Chester’s Step Test on Physical Fitness Index in Students of Age Group 18-25years
Kadambari Pradeep Potdar1, Dr. G D Vishnu Vardhan2
1BPT Student, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam College of Physiotherapy, Loni, Maharashtra
2Associate Professor, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam College of Physiotherapy, Loni, Maharashtra
Corresponding Author: Kadambari Pradeep Potdar
ABSTRACT
Background: The physical fitness index measures the physical fitness for muscular work and the ability to recover from the work. The Chester Step Test (CST) assesses the physical fitness of individual. The present study was done to assess the physical fitness index using Chester Step Test in young adult in the age group of 18 to 25 years with varying degree of physical activity.
Objective: To determine the physical fitness index of individuals after performing Chester step test.
Materials and Methods: The study included 50 participants, 35 female and 15 male. They were asked to perform Chester’s step test for the period of 4weeks and 5 sessions per week. The physical fitness index was calculated on the first and the last day of intervention.
Result: By applying Student’s Paired ‘t’ test there is a highly significant improvement in the average values of physical fitness index from pre to post Chester’s Step Test. (i.e. p=0.001), in underweight participants the value of physical fitness index are 31.887 and post intervention is 66.59, where as in the normal BMI participants the value of physical fitness index are 32.620 and post intervention is 64.511 and in overweight participants the value of physical fitness index are 31.014 and post intervention is 52.322.
Conclusion: The study concluded that the sedentary life style, lack of sporting activities and over emphasis on academics leads to decreased physical fitness in students. A decreased in physical fitness has been noted in overweight students. Whereas the individuals who are physically fit has less heart rate variability. Thus regular physical activities are important to maintain physical fitness. Thus the study concluded that the physical fitness index was increased after the intervention but not up to the scores of physical fitness index because of the above mentioned reasons.
Key words: Chester’s step test, Physical Fitness Index,