Introduction: The goal of present study was to compare some of anthropometrical, body structural and physical fitness factors in athletes and non-athletes girls’ student in Birjand University.
Methodology: The resent research was a causal-comparative study. The population of the study was included all 19 to 25-year-old female students in Birjand University. The sample included 40 athletes participated in national competitions (volleyball = 20, futsal = 20) and also 20 were non-athletes. Anthropometric factors, physical fitness and body structure include: height, weight, waist and hip circumference, body fat percentage, thoracic and lumbar lordosis curvatures angles, leg muscle strength, cardiopulmonary fitness, flexibility and Navi loss index were evaluated using by standard methods. Statistical analysis using SPSS 20 software and ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test were used and the significant level set as p> 0.05.
Results: The results showed that volleyball players had lesser body fat percent and more muscle mass than the other two groups, especially compared to non-athletes. The futsal players indicated lesser lordosis angle than to other groups; moreover, the non-athletes students had more amount of lordosis angle. Furthermore, leg muscle power, flexibility and cardio respiratory fitness of futsal players was significantly higher than volleyball players and in volleyball players was more than non-athletes. In conjunction with BMI, WHR, kyphosis angle and Navi drop index, there was no significant difference among three groups.
Discussion: According to the results of the present study is the regular exercise such as volleyball and futsal could improve health-related fitness factors. Moreover, athletes were in better physical condition of the spine angles as compared to non-athletes. Considering the importance of general health status and to improve the quality of life, create sports programs for non-physical education students should be designed on the agenda of university officials.