The estimation scale of the daily pedometry of senior students

Abstract

Background and Study Aim: To create the estimation scale of the daily pedometry of senior students with different levels of motor activity. To determine the dependence of students' life quality on the volume of step locomotions.  Material and methods. The students of Irkutsk National Research Technical University (Irkutsk, Russia) (n = 235: females - n = 78, males - n = 157: 19-20 years old) participated in the study. The daily pedometry of students for 7 days was studied. The number of daily steps was recorded by Simple Design Ltd application for smartphones. The sigma deviation method was used to develop an individual daily pedometry estimation scale. The daily pedometry scale was developed based on the distribution of this characteristic by 5 sigma classes ("low", "below average", "average", "above average", "high"). Students' life quality was studied using a Russian-language version of SF-36 (Short Form Health Survey). The survey presents the characteristics of physical (PH), mental (MH) and general (GH) health. The answers were estimated in points (0-100). Results. Most students have an "average" level of step locomotions. 10% of males and about 8% of females have "above average" or "high" pedometry level. This group of students is actively engaged in sports activities. 4.8% of males and 7.5% of females have a "low" pedometry level. In this group of students, motor activity is limited only by locomotions related to educational and household activities. Students with "high" and "above average" pedometry levels have the highest values of life quality indicators. Such students are in a safe zone of non-communicable diseases. The “low” level of daily step locomotions is considered as a predictor of insufficient physical activity, low general and mental health of students. Conclusions. The sigma deviation method allows distributing any population of people by the number of daily locomotions into five sigma classes. The level of daily step locomotions can be considered as a marker of physical activity, general and mental health. This approach makes it possible to refer a person to a safe health zone or a risk group of non-communicable diseases. The results of the study can be used in the recommendations for improving the students’ life quality. It is also recommended to use our recommendations to increase students' self-motor activity during their university studies.