The relationship between physical fitness and fatigue among female employees in general hospitals

BACKGROUND: Physiological fatigue due to excessive physical activities and lack of proper rest is commonly observed among workers. Previous studies suggested that physiological fatigue can be related to individual physical fitness. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between physical fitness and the degree of fatigue in 95 female employees in general hospitals. METHODS: Subjects were healthy adults female volunteers who were employed by two general hospitals located in Seoul and Kyunggido. The degree of fatigue using fatigue severity scale and physical fitness including % body fat, waist-hip ratio, maximal oxygen uptake, both grip strengths, back muscle strength, sit ups, flexibility, and broad jump were assessed. Data were analysed to examine the relationship between the degree of fatigue and each physical fitness. RESULTS: 1. Fatigue severity scale was significantly increased with increasing age and commuting time. Drinking alcohol was significantly related to increased fatigue severity scale. 2. Fatigue severity scale was significantly decreased with increasing number of family members and length of service. 3. Fatigue severity scale was significantly decreased with increasing both grip strengths , maximal O2 uptake, and sit ups. CONCLUSION: The physical fitness factors including both grip strengths, maximal O2 uptake, and sit ups were considered to be important predictors in the evaluation of the degree of physiological fatigue.

Validity analysis of for exercise tests in assessing aerobic capacity of young men

BACKGROUND: Assessment of aerobic capacity (VO2max) is one of the essential components in exercise prescription for health promotion and maintenance. This study was conducted to compare the validity of four exercise tests to assess aerobic capacity in young adult male subjects by comparing them to the values measured from maximal ergometer exercise test (criterion VO2max). METHODS: Twenty young healthy adult males (M+/-SD=21.1+/-1.5 years) volunteered as subjects. Criterion VO2max was calculated and printed out automatically by computerized analysis system of expired air samples collected during maximal ergometer exercise test. VO2max was estimated for each subject from heart rate at submaximal workloads on the cycle ergometer using the Astrand-Rhyming nomogram(A/R) and Fox protocol(FOX) and the computerized multiple extrapolation method (XTP). The score got from Havard step test(H/S) was used to compare the validity. The validity of the procedures was based on the evaluation of the predicted VO2max (from A/R, FOX, XTP, and H/S) versus the criterion VO2max via the calculation of constant error (CE=mean difference for predicted minus criterion VO2max), r value, standard error of the estimate[SEE=SD(1-r2)(1/2)], total error [TE=(sigma(predicted VO2max - criterion VO2max)(2)/n)(1/2)]. RESULTS: In relation to criterion VO2max, the XTP and A.R underpredicted (XTP: 40.8 ml/kg/min SD=4.1; A/R: 37.3 ml/kg/min SD=5.0) and the H/S and FOX overpredicted (H/S: 48.0 ml/kg/min SD=5.9: FOX 46.3 ml/kg/min SD=5.5). Dunnett post-hoc procedures revealed that there were significant (P<0.05) mean differences (CE) for VO2max from A/R versus criterion. The validity coefficients for VO2max derived from XTP, H/S, A/R, and FOX were 0.68, 0.53, 0.50, and 0.49, respectively. TE of the XTP, FOX, H/S and A/R, which accounts for the effects of both the CE and SEE, were 5.73, 6.13, 6.75, and 8.87, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the XTP is recommended first for estimation VO2max in young adult males. It is also considered that further studies about female and other age groups are necessary.