Exercise Activities in Harmony with Local Community Lifestyle

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences,2013,3,4, 860-865.
Published:November 2013
Type:Research Articles
Authors:
Author(s) affiliations:

Sumattana Glangkarn*, Vorapoj Promasatayaprot

Assistance Professor, Faculty of Public Health, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham Province, THAILAND.

Abstract:

Regular exercise is good for health but it is quite difficult for people in local community because they have to spend their times on work rather than doing exercise. Thus exercise model that can be integrated with people’s lifestyle need to be considered. If people can do exercise as part of their daily lives regularly, they will be healthy and fit. The purpose of this study was to make exercise as a part of community lifestyle that can be run continuously and long lastingly. The study had been conducted in 20 villages in Wungsang Sub-district, Kaedum District, Maha sarakham Province, Thailand. Data were collected using questionnaires, recording form of physical fitness test and observational record. The findings from a survey revealed that most people in communities needed to participate in an exercise project. The participants undertook physical fitness test including grip strength, muscle strength, flexibility, lung capacity, and body mass index before starting exercise program. There were exercise trainings by the sports science professionals such as stretching, Plong-Thai (long stick) exercise, elastic exercise, and aerobic dance. Exercises have been successfully run in communities regularly and continuously. People accepted benefits of exercise on their health, not only physical health but also mental and social health. The effective exercise project led to the health promotion for people in Wungsang Sub-district. The local administrative organisation, therefore add this project in the master plan every year as the public policy due to community need, benefit, and ownership.

Training