Frontiers in Health Erzurum Technical University Physical Fitness Fiziksel Uygunluk Fizyoterapi Öğrencilerinin Cinsiyet Parametresi Temel Alınarak Fiziksel Uygunluk Seviyesinin Belirlenmesi: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma Determining The Physical Fitness Level of Physiotherapy Students Based on Gender Parameters: A Cross-Sectional Study https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3617-9087 Sönmez Mehmet ERZURUM TEKNİK ÜNİVERSİTESİ 03 29 2026 1 1 9 21 11 26 2025 01 12 2026

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Erzurum Teknik Üniversitesi Fizyoterapi ve Rehabilitasyon Bölümü'nde kayıtlı öğrencilerin temel sağlık ve beceri ile ilgili fiziksel uygunluk bileşenlerini (genel fiziksel performans, alt ekstremite dayanıklılığı, esneklik ve reaksiyon süresi) değerlendirmektir.Yöntem: Bu çalışma, 134 gönüllü öğrenci (105 kadın, 29 erkek) ile gerçekleştirilen kesitsel bir tanımlayıcı çalışmadır. Yaş, boy, kilo ve Vücut Kitle İndeksi (VKİ) gibi ölçümler toplanmıştır. Fiziksel uygunluk, Kısa Fiziksel Performans Bataryası (SPPB), 30 saniyelik otur-kalk testi, Otur ve Uzan Testi ve Cetvel Düşürme Testi kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Cinsiyet farklılıklarını incelemek için bağımsız örneklemler t-testi kullanılmıştır ve anlamlılık düzeyi p<.05 olarak belirlenmiştir.Bulgular: Erkek katılımcılar, SPPB (Ortalama: 11,00'a karşı 9,78, p <.001) ve 30 saniyelik otur-kalk testinde (Ortalama: 17,35'e karşı 15,37 tekrar, p = .003) kadınlardan önemli ölçüde daha yüksek puanlar elde ettiler. Ancak, Oturma ve Uzanma Testi (p=.549) veya Cetvel Düşürme Testi (p=.328) için istatistiksel olarak anlamlı cinsiyet farklılıkları bulunmamıştır.Sonuç: Sonuçlar, öğrenciler arasında heterojen bir fiziksel uygunluk profili olduğunu göstermektedir. Erkekler genel fiziksel fonksiyon, alt ekstremite gücü ve dayanıklılık açısından daha üstün performans göstermektedir. Bulgular, öğrencilerin profesyonel kariyerlerine başlamadan önce fiziksel uygunluk eksikliklerini gidermek için hedefli müdahalelerin gerekliliğini vurgulamaktadır.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the basic health- and skill-related physical fitness components—general physical performance, lower extremity endurance, flexibility, and reaction time—of students enrolled in the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Erzurum Technical University.Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted with 134 volunteer students (105 female, 29 male). Measurements, including age, height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI), were collected. Physical fitness was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the 30-second sit-to-stand test, the Sit and Reach Test, and the Ruler Drop Test. The independent samples t-test was used to examine gender differences, with a significance level of p<.05.Results: Male participants exhibited significantly higher scores than females in the SPPB (Mean: 11.00 vs. 9.78, p <.001) and the 30-second sit-to-stand test (Mean: 17.35 vs. 15.37 repetitions, p = .003). However, no statistically significant gender differences were found for the Sit-and-Reach Test (p=.549) or the Ruler Drop Test (p=.328).Conclusion: The results demonstrate a heterogeneous physical fitness profile among the students, with males showing superior performance in general physical function, lower extremity strength, and endurance. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address fitness deficiencies in students before they enter their professional careers.

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