In a concerning trend, 40% of India's young generation has failed a fitness test pertaining to the health of the heart and lungs.
Dr Abhishek Srivastava, a neuro-rehabilitation specialist and director at the Centre for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, elaborated on the test's importance. "The Queens College Step Test is a submaximal test that provides a measure of your endurance fitness. It’s a safe and quick way to estimate your VO2 max, which is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can utilise during exercise," he explained.
A recent study conducted by the SBB College of Physiotherapy at VS Hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, has raised alarms about the cardiorespiratory fitness of young adults in India.
The research, titled "Effect of physical parameters on Queens College step test performance in young adults of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India" and published in the Journal of Society of Indian Physiotherapists, revealed that a significant 40% of young participants could not complete the Queens College Step Test.
The test requires participants to step up and down on a platform measuring 16.25 inches/41.3 cm at specific rates: 22 steps per minute for females and 24 steps per minute for males. This is done using a four-step cadence of 'up-up-down-down' for 3 minutes. After completing the test, participants stop immediately, and heartbeats are counted for 15 seconds from 5-20 seconds of recovery. Multiplying this 15-second reading by 4 provides the beats per minute (bpm) value used to calculate the VO2 max.
VO2 max, the maximum oxygen consumption during exercise, can be estimated through various methods. The Queens Step Test is popular due to its ease, safety, and feasibility. A high VO2 max indicates a robust cardiovascular and respiratory system, offering benefits such as better stress tolerance, reduced risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, and improved overall health.
Dr Srivastava expressed concern over the 40% failure rate among Indian participants, attributing it to societal shifts. "This reflects a growing issue in our society where physical fitness is being neglected. Our focus on social media and a less active lifestyle is impacting the health of our youth."
To address this concerning trend, Dr Srivastava emphasized the need for mass awareness campaigns to educate young people about the importance of physical fitness and the risks of a sedentary lifestyle. He also suggested implementing the Queens College Step Test in schools and colleges for regular fitness assessments, reported The Indian Express.