The impact of sports and recreational hiking with bicycles on the state of the cardiorespiratory system of Chinese students

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. In the modern educational space, active forms of recreational and health activities are becoming increasingly important, promoting physical development, health promotion and the formation of a healthy lifestyle among student youth. Cycling tourism is one of the types of active tourism based on travel using a bicycle as the main means of transportation. It combines recreational, educational and sports aspects, promoting the harmonious development of the individual. This type of tourism has a number of specific features that determine its popularity, in particular among student youth. The purpose of the study is to identify the impact of sports and recreational hiking with bicycles on the state of the cardiorespiratory system of Chinese students.

Material and Methods. The study involved 12 male students from Boai County Vocational College, China (the average age of the study participants was 18.9±2.83 years). Students took part in a sports and recreational tourism hike with bicycles, which lasted 8 days from October 20 to October 27, 2024. The study involved monitoring the well-being and functional state of the cardiovascular system (in terms of heart rate) and respiratory system (in terms of vital capacity) of students while participating in a sports and recreational cycling trip. During the hike, heart rate and vital capacity of the lungs were measured every morning and evening (after completing the daily stage), and self-monitoring diaries were kept by each of the hike participants.

Results. The analysis of the results of sports and recreational hike with bicycles showed a positive effect of physical activity on the functional state of students. It was found that in the first days of the hike there was a gradual increase in heart rate, which indicates adaptation to physical activity. After a day of rest, heart rate indicators stabilized, and vital capacity of the lungs tended to increase at the end of the hike, which indicates an improvement in the functional reserves of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of the participants. Thus, cycling tourist hike are an effective means of physical development and health improvement for young people, which confirms the need for their regular implementation in the practice of physical education.

Conclusions. It has been established that the cycling sports and health hike has a positive effect on the functional state of the cardiorespiratory system of students. In the first days of the hike, a gradual increase in heart rate was observed, which indicates the body's adaptation to physical exertion. After a day of rest, the heart rate indicators stabilized, and the vital capacity of the lungs (VC) had a tendency to increase at the end of the hike, which indicates an improvement in the functional reserves of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of the participants.