Objective: The aim: Is to investigate the dynamics of the morphofunctional development and physical health of students who were engaged in strength sports while studying at university.
Patients and methods: Materials and methods: The study involved 360 male students of different faculties between the ages of 17 and 20. Two groups of students were formed: experimental and control groups. The EG students (n=40) were engaged in strength sports (powerlifting, athletics, Crossfit); the CG students (n=320) were training according to the current program of physical education. The study of the morphofunctional development of students was carried out taking account of the indicators of body length, body weight, handgrip test, heart rate, blood pressure, and vital capacity. The level of students' health was examined according to the methodology of the assessment of the physical health level by G. L. Apanasenko.
Results: Results: It was established that strength sports at university affect physical development, functional abilities of the major systems of an organism, and the health state of future doctors in a more efficient way than the current program of physical education. It was found that the influence on the indicators of handgrip test, vital capacity, and heart rate of the EG students was the most prominent positive effect of sports. The evaluation of the calculated indexes (power index, life index) and the level of physical health confirmed this trend.
Conclusion: Conclusions: The conducted research asserts the necessity of introducing the sports-oriented form of the physical training organization at the medical higher education institutions of Ukraine to strengthen the students' health and to maintain the efficiency of the future doctors' professional activity.
Keywords: health; physical education; sport; students.