The cardiovascular endurance and its changes among the pupils of different sex and age (12, 14, 16) groups in secondary schools in 1992, 2002, 2012

Object of the research: cardiovascular endurance Problem of the research: In Lithuania generally the cardiovascular endurance of people is deteriorating. Purpose: to determine the cardiovascular endurance of pupils from secondary schools among the groups of different age (12, 14, 16 years old) and sex. To assess the changes of cardiovascular endurance during the years of 1992, 2002, 2012. Aims: 1. To determine the cardiovascular endurance of pupils from secondary school in the year of 2012 and to assess the change of it in the aspect of age and sex. 2. To assess the changes of cardiovascular endurance of pupils in chronological aspect among different age and sex groups during the years of 1992 – 2002 – 2012. Hypothesis: The cardiovascular endurance of pupils is currently not satisfactory. In chronological aspect there is a negative trend in changes of cardiovascular tests results. The aims of scientific articles in Lithuania and worldwide claim that among the students and schoolchildren's there is a significant shortage of physical activities and it is the main risk factor of cardiovascular diseases (Sallis, R.P, 1997). Low level of physical activities among higher education students is also a matter for concern (Astrauskienė, 2005). The assessed results of students’ physical fitness tests show that the one of the most important physical abilities, the aerobic capacity, is the most quickly deteriorating physical ability (Šiupšinskas, 2005). Because the link is found between the level of physical activities and aerobic capacity (Huang YC, 2002), it is possible to make an assumption that one of the reasons of decreased aerobic capacity is the decreased level of physical activities among the young people. Conclusions: 1. In the year of 2012, the cardiovascular endurance of 12, 14, 16 year old boys was satisfactory (5-8 points rating). The results get better as the age increases (p<0,05). 2. In the year of 2012, the cardiovascular endurance of 12, 14, 16 year old girls was low (5 points rating). The results do not change as the age increases (p<0,05), the stabilization of results was observed. 3. Changes of cardiovascular endurance of 12, 14, 16 years old of pupils from secondary school in the years of 1992 – 2002 – 2012: Boys - negative (p