Abstract:

Nowadays, physical activity plays an important role in preventing diseases and promoting the health of the school population.
The study aims to analyse and highlight the contemporary amount of physical activity in the lifestyle of students with regard to their health (during the Covid-19 pandemic).
The study group comprised 838 respondents, including n=422 girls (16.1±2.37 years) and 416 boys (16.9±2.21 years). The data were acquired by means of standard physical and sport education research methods.
In terms of their health, the boys evaluated their health status and well-being significantly better (p < 0.01) than the girls. What is more, the boys had significantly (p < 0.01) fewer health problems than the girls. In addition, we found a relation between the boys’ physical activity and their own assessment of their health status (r = 0.8745) as well as their well-being (r = 0.8688). The boys also assessed their physical fitness significantly (p < 0.01) better than the girls.
Furthermore, the results show significant differences (p < 0.01) as far as postural health is concerned. One of its significant symptoms (p < 0.01) is pain. The girls demonstrated significantly (p < 0.01) worse results in the abdomen and pelvic region, whereas the boys demonstrated worse head and neck posture (p < 0.01). The results of both genders belong to the third quality category.
The amount of physical activity aimed at promoting health and improving physical fitness of the school population is not sufficient. The girls do significantly (p < 0.01) fewer sports activities than the boys. What is more, the boys exhibit significantly greater intensity and frequency of physical activity than the girls (p < 0.01). Sports activities in both genders are initiated by their friends. However, there is a significant difference (p < 0.01) in their motivation. The girls’ main focus is their health, while the boys do sports first and foremost to improve their physical fitness. The aforementioned findings should be approached and evaluated from a broader perspective with the aim of achieving “active health” of students by means of health promotion and disease prevention measures.

Acknowledgements: The listed study is part of the research project VEGA “1/0519/19 Physical activity as prevention of health of school population in Slovakia”.

Keywords:

health, physical activity, musculoskeletal system, schoolchildren