Determinación del nivel de actividad física mediante la aplicación del Cuestionario Internacional de la Actividad Física (IPAQ) a los estudiantes de la Carrera de Fisioterapia de la Universidad de Cuenca. Septiembre 2022 – febrero 2023

Abstract

Physical activity refers to any movement produced by the human body and it has multiple benefits for both physical and mental health. The university stage has been identified as a critical where there is a sharp decline in the practice of physical activity because of students left healthy habits and acquire harmful ones. The objective was to determine the level of physical activity in the students of the Physiotherapy career of the University of Cuenca through the application of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short version. A quantitative study of descriptive scope, observational of cross-section in the students of the Physiotherapy career of the University of Cuenca in the period September-February 2023. According to the results, it was observed that 47.40% of the total of students perform moderate physical activity, it meant that female sex prevailed with 65%. In addition, the most active student population was in an age range from 18 to 20 years, the seventh semester had the highest percentage of low physical activity while in the third semester it showed the highest percentage of high-intensity physical activity. According to the obtained results the level of physical activity in the Physiotherapy students of the University of Cuenca is moderate, becoming an encouraging fact. Also, it was observed that female sex could be a determining factor because of high percentage.