A Study on Physical Fitness in Student Nurses

Kim, Hyang Dong; Park, Jeong Suk; Kwon, Young Sook

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to identify levels of physical fitness in student nurses and to ascertain the relationship among the different aspects of physical fitness of strength, power, muscle endurance, agility, balance and flexibility. METHOD: The participants were 266 students selected from one college of nursing. From May 1 to July 31 in 2003, physical constitution, muscle strength (grip strength, back strength), power (standing long jump), muscle endurance (sit-ups), agility (whole body reaction time-light, sound), balance (close-eyes foot-balance), and flexibility (sitting trunk flexion) were measured. RESULT: The mean(standard deviation) for grip strength was 22.59(3.93) kg., for back strength, 48.52(12.85) kg., for standing long jump, 135.29(20.54) m., for sit-up's, 23.66(9.35) per minute, whole body reaction time (light), 0.43(0.11) sec, whole body reaction time (sound), 0.50(0.16) sec, close-eyes foot-balance, 33.35(38.67) sec, and sitting trunk flexion 34.72(9.37) cm. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the physical fitness of student nurses is very low compared to the results in a report from the Korea Sports Science Institute. It is necessary to include exercise programs for student nurses in order to improve their physical fitness.