Students' Cardiorespiratory Fitness Responses to the Implementation of Structured Aerobic Exercise

Retno Farhana Nurulita; Muhammad Qasash Hasyim

doi:10.26858/cpjok.v18i2.941

Authors

Retno Farhana Nurulita Universitas Negeri Makassar Author
Muhammad Qasash Hasyim Universitas Negeri Makassar Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26858/cpjok.v18i2.941

Keywords:

Cardiorespiratory Fitness; Aerobic Exercise; Structured Exercise; College Students; Physical Fitness.

Abstract

Cardiorespiratory fitness is a fundamental component of physical fitness that plays a crucial role in supporting students’ health, academic performance, and participation in daily physical activities. However, sedentary lifestyles among university students may contribute to decreased cardiorespiratory capacity, highlighting the need for effective exercise interventions. This study aimed to analyze students’ cardiorespiratory fitness responses to the implementation of a structured aerobic exercise program in the campus environment of the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Makassar (FIKK UNM). The study employed a quantitative approach using a quasi-experimental method with a one-group pretest-posttest design. A total of 60 students were selected through purposive sampling. Participants engaged in a structured aerobic exercise program for eight weeks, performed three times per week, with a duration of 45–60 minutes per session at moderate intensity (60–75% of maximum heart rate). Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using the Multistage Fitness Test (Beep Test). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired sample t-test with a significance level of 0.05. The findings revealed a significant improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness following the intervention. The mean fitness score increased from 34.65 ± 3.12 in the pretest to 38.92 ± 3.45 in the posttest, with an average increase of 4.27 points. The paired sample t-test indicated a statistically significant difference between pretest and posttest scores (t = −9.84; p = 0.000). These results demonstrate that structured aerobic exercise implemented within the campus environment provides a positive and significant effect on improving students’ cardiorespiratory fitness. Therefore, structured aerobic exercise programs can be recommended as an effective strategy to promote health and physical fitness among university students.

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