Assessment of indicators of physical development and fitness of female students engaged in recreational types of gymnastics at the university

in modern conditions, there is an acute problem of insufficient physical fitness and development among students, caused by a reduction in their physical activity. This situation is especially critical for girls, as they often have various health problems [1]. One of the key reasons is low motivation for systematic physical education. In the context of solving this problem, the introduction of forms of physical activity that can attract and retain the interest of female students is becoming relevant. Research shows that the most effective direction in this context is the types of health-improving gymnastics based on complex exercises for the whole body. This approach demonstrates significant potential in health promotion [2, 3, 4]. As part of the study, 58 1st-year female students at TOGU engaged in recreational gymnastics in optional classes twice a week, for two hours during the entire 2023-2024 academic year. The results were impressive: 97% of female students attended classes regularly, and 95% expressed a desire to continue classes after graduation. The study showed that the main anthropometric indicators (height, body weight, chest circumference) did not change significantly, but there was a tendency to decrease body weight, which may indicate positive changes in the body composition of female students. The body mass index (BMI) remained within the normal range (about 21 kg/m2) throughout the experiment, which confirms the absence of obesity and compliance with WHO recommendations. The improvement in performance was especially noticeable in functional tests and physical fitness tests, where the girls showed significant progress. The aim of the study was to study the effect of recreational gymnastics on the physical development and motor fitness of female students. The methodology included the measurement of anthropometric indicators, testing of physical qualities and statistical data processing. The results confirm that recreational gymnastics helps to increase interest in physical education, improve the physical condition and strengthen the health of female students, which is a priority in the work of higher educational institutions.

physical development, physical fitness, university students, recreational types of gymnastics, indicators