Correlates of cardiorespiratory fitness and gait parameters in young undergraduate subjects
Date
2010
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
U. P.
Abstract
Physiological studies of healthy individuals suggested that the pattern of walking influenced the oxygen cost of walking in a given distance. It has also been observed that in pathological states, shorter and frequent steps are common and that this inefficient gait might contribute to exercise limitation. The purpose of the present study was therefore to investigate the corelates of cardiovascular fitness and gait parameters in young undergraduate students. A cross sectional independent group design was used in data collection. Forty subjects with age ranged between 20 and 30 years participated in the study. Subjects’ cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using the 1.4 miles run; subjects were group into cardiorespiratory fitness category of high and low. Gait parameters (cadence [CD], step time [ST] & gait speed [GS]) were assessed using the paper-and-pencil method. Student t test and Pearson correlation test were used in data analysis. Findings indicates significant increase in the high fit group over low fit group in CD, ST and GS at p<.05. There was a significant positive and negative correlation between VO2max and gait variables respectively: GS (.465), CD (.555) and ST (-.580) at p<.01. The present study concluded that cardiovascular fitness could be a positive factor/marker of qualitative pattern of walking in normal young adult. Future studies investigating the effect of physical training on pattern of walking in the healthy, chronic diseases and the disables are recommended.
Description
The article has tables and figures
Keywords
Gait, cardiorespiratory, fitness, exercise, Department of Biomedical Technology
Citation
Azeez, T. O., Lamina, S. & Iwuji, S. C. (2010). Correlates of cardiorespiratory fitness and gait parameters in young undergraduate subjects. Journal of Health Sciences and Technology, 1, 140 - 146