Morais Jorge Filipe Estrela, Larrière Onésie, Bragada José Augusto Afonso, Bartolomeu Raul Filipe Barbosa, Magalhães Pedro Miguel, Schnegg Antoine, Houndekon Martial, Garnier Yoann M, Mourot Laurent
Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.
Research Centre for Active Living and Wellbeing (LiveWell), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal.
BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Oct 31;17(1):315. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01359-0.
Physical fitness and body composition are foundational to the training and academic success of sports sciences students. However, baseline physical profiles may vary across institutions and countries, reflecting differences in cultural, educational, and physical activity environments. This study aimed to compare physical fitness levels and anthropometric characteristics of first-year sports sciences students from three European institutions in France and Portugal.
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 172 first-year university students (121 males, 51 females) enrolled in sports sciences programs at one French (UMLP) and two Portuguese institutions (IPB and IPG). Participants completed a standardized physical fitness test battery assessing aerobic capacity (estimated VO₂), upper- and lower-body strength (handgrip, isometric mid-thigh pull), explosive power (standing long jump), flexibility (sit-and-reach), and balance (standing stork test). Anthropometric measures included body mass, fat mass, and lean mass. Group and gender differences were analyzed using ANOVA and effect sizes.
Students from UMLP displayed significantly higher performance in estimated VO₂max (IPB vs UMLP d = 1.08; IPG vs UMLP d = 0.81), strength (isometric mid-thigh pull [IPB vs UMLP d = 0.65; IPG vs UMLP d = 0.73]), flexibility (IPB vs UMLP d = 0.61; IPG vs UMLP d = 0.69), balance (IPG vs UMLP d = 0.91), and body composition (higher lean mass [IPB vs UMLP d = 0.19; IPG vs UMLP d = 0.28], lower fat mass [IPB vs UMLP d = 0.22; IPG vs UMLP d = 0.31]) compared to their Portuguese peers. IPG students outperformed the other groups in the standing long jump test (IPB vs IPG d = 0.51; IPG vs UMLP d = 1.38). Males consistently outperformed females across all fitness domains except flexibility. Significant group-by-gender interactions were observed for flexibility and strength measures.
This study highlights substantial differences in physical fitness and body composition among first-year sports sciences students across institutions in France and Portugal. These findings underline the importance of assessing students' physical readiness at university entry and suggest that institutional and cultural factors may influence physical health trajectories. Targeted interventions may be warranted to ensure baseline fitness equity and promote academic and athletic success.
身体素质和身体成分是体育科学专业学生训练和学业成功的基础。然而，不同院校和国家的基线身体状况可能有所不同，这反映了文化、教育和体育活动环境的差异。本研究旨在比较法国和葡萄牙三所欧洲院校的体育科学专业一年级学生的身体素质水平和人体测量特征。
对法国一所大学（UMLP）和葡萄牙两所院校（IPB和IPG）体育科学专业的172名一年级大学生（121名男性，51名女性）进行了横断面研究。参与者完成了一组标准化的体能测试，评估有氧能力（估计VO₂）、上下肢力量（握力、等长中大腿拉力）、爆发力（立定跳远）、柔韧性（坐位体前屈）和平衡能力（单腿站立试验）。人体测量指标包括体重、脂肪量和瘦体重。使用方差分析和效应量分析组间和性别差异。
与葡萄牙同龄人相比，UMLP的学生在估计的VO₂max（IPB与UMLP的d=1.08；IPG与UMLP的d=0.81）、力量（等长中大腿拉力[IPB与UMLP的d=0.65；IPG与UMLP的d=0.73]）、柔韧性（IPB与UMLP的d=0.61；IPG与UMLP的d=0.69）、平衡能力（IPG与UMLP的d=0.91）和身体成分（较高的瘦体重[IPB与UMLP的d=0.19；IPG与UMLP的d=0.28]，较低的脂肪量[IPB与UMLP的d=0.22；IPG与UMLP的d=0.31]）方面表现显著更高。在立定跳远测试中，IPG的学生表现优于其他组（IPB与IPG的d=0.51；IPG与UMLP的d=1.38）。除柔韧性外，在所有体能领域男性的表现始终优于女性。在柔韧性和力量测量中观察到显著的组×性别交互作用。
本研究突出了法国和葡萄牙不同院校体育科学专业一年级学生在身体素质和身体成分方面的显著差异。这些发现强调了在大学入学时评估学生身体准备情况的重要性，并表明院校和文化因素可能影响身体健康轨迹。可能需要有针对性的干预措施，以确保基线体能公平，并促进学业和体育成就。
