Introduction: Regular sports participation offers significant health benefits, enhancing cardiovascular fitness, body composition, and overall well-being. Understanding the fitness profiles of student-athletes is crucial for optimizing athletic performance and promoting health among university populations. This study addresses the lack of comprehensive assessments by evaluating anthropometric characteristics and cardiovascular parameters across various sports disciplines at the University of Ibadan.
Methods: A total of 135 (male = 95, female = 40) student-athletes from the University of Ibadan participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants engaged in swimming, football, combat sports, basketball, athletics, and volleyball were recruited based on regular sports participation and no pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. Structured questionnaires were administered to collect demographic, sporting history, and other health-related information. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI, body fat percentage, hip circumference) and cardiovascular parameters (resting heart rate, blood pressure, VO2 max) were assessed using standardized techniques. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p<0.05.
Results: Significant variations were observed in anthropometric characteristics and cardiovascular parameters across different sporting activities. Volleyball players exhibited the highest weight (p<0.05), while basketball players had the tallest stature. Additionally, specific sports showed distinct cardiovascular demands, with basketball and swimming showing higher VO2max (p<0.05) compared to other sports. Blood pressure showed significant reductions (p<0.05) in systolic blood pressure among student-athletes.
Conclusion – The study highlights significant differences in anthropometric and cardiovascular profiles across different sporting activities. The findings provide valuable insights for optimizing training strategies, injury prevention measures, and health promotion initiatives within the university sporting community.