Biomechanical effects of different intensity combinations of aerobic exercise on the enhancement of physiological fitness of college students

Abstract

Aerobic exercise is an effective way to improve cardiorespiratory function and enhance physical fitness, which has a positive impact on the physiological health level of college students, and this study aims to investigate the impact of aerobic exercise with different combinations of intensity on the enhancement of physiological health level of college students. Twenty college students, aged 18–24, in robust health and devoid of long-term exercise backgrounds, were recruited. They engaged in three 30-minute aerobic exercise regimens: low-to-moderate, low-to-high, and moderate-to-high intensity. Biomechanically, each intensity level triggered distinct muscular activation patterns and energy demands. The physiological health indexes of the subjects were measured before and after the exercise, including the heart rate, the degree of self-consciousness of fatigue, the oxygen saturation, the perfusion index, and the emotional state. All indicators can be measured by professional equipment, and different intensity groups are determined according to the intensity of aerobic respiration. The results of the study showed that before the exercise intervention, there was no difference between the physiological health indicators of all subjects, which was homogeneous. In contrast, after the exercise intervention, physiological health indicators showed changes due to different intensities of aerobic exercise. In the two indicators of heart rate and conscious fatigue, there was a significant difference in the enhancement of the two indicators by aerobic exercise (P < 0.05), and the greater the intensity of aerobic exercise, the greater the effect on heart rate and conscious fatigue. Higher intensity aerobic exercise spurred the heart to work harder, pumping blood more vigorously to fuel active muscles, as dictated by biomechanical principles. In the two indicators of oxygen saturation and perfusion index, the effect of aerobic exercise did not have a significant difference (P > 0.05), and did not show a specific pattern of change. In terms of emotional state indexes, the effects of aerobic exercise of different intensities on the subjects were reflected in different emotional indexes, but in terms of the overall emotional disturbance index, aerobic exercise of different intensities did not have a significant effect on the emotional disturbance index. In sum, aerobic exercise’s biomechanical benefits for students’ health are clear. Colleges should boost its promotion, offer varied programs, and guide participation to harness these advantages for enhanced physical and mental health.