African
Journals OnLine
African Journal for Physical, Health Education,
Recreation and Dance (AJPHERD)
Volume 9 Number 2, October 2003
ABSTRACTS
Promotion of physically active lifestyle among South
African youth
J.M. Frantz, J.S. Phillips and S.L. Amosun
Abstract
Physical inactivity is one of the
major underlying causes of mortality in the world. Various studies have proven
that a moderate amount of physical activity can help to reduce various chronic
diseases of lifestyle. The current article reviews literature pertaining to the
prevalence of chronic diseases of lifestyle in South Africa, and the rationale
for promoting physical activity among the youth in order to prevent the
prevalence of chronic diseases of lifestyle in later years. Recommendations on
how to promote physically active lifestyles among South African youth are
proffered.
Key
words: Physical activity, lifestyle,
chronic diseases, youth, promotion.
Body
image and physical activity among black university students in South Africa
K.
Peltzer
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to identify and understand
factors of body image influencing physical exercise behaviour among black South
African women and men. There
were 289 participants, 189 women and 100 men chosen from non-health
sciences courses in a class setting. Results indicated that more than a third
of the participants indicated that they had engaged three or more times a week
in vigorous physical activity. More than one-third (35%) of the women were
overweight or obese and a quarter of the men (25%) were underweight. Physical
activity was strongly associated with appearance evaluation, fitness
orientation, fitness evaluation, health orientation and weakly associated with
appearance orientation and illness orientation. BMI was associated with
overweight preoccupation and self-classified weight. Fitness orientation,
health evaluation and body areas satisfaction were associated with ideal weight
preferences.
Key words: Body image, physical activity, black
women and men, South Africa.
Poverty,
urbanisation, physical inactivity and health in African societies
A.L. Travill
Abstract
Research has provided overwhelming scientific evidence on the health,
social and psychological benefits of engaging in sufficient, regular physical
activities. However, physical activity is still considered to be the most
underutilised inexpensive health resource in the world, despite its proven
positive influences on the many aspects of personal health. Various factors are
contributing to increases in sedentary lifestyles. The recreational
alternatives brought about by technological advances especially in the field of
computer technology have become strong competitors for people’s free time.
However, people’s level of participation is not always governed by choice but
often by unequal access to opportunities. Limited physical, human and financial
resources in African societies, brought about by wide spread poverty and
urbanisation, are depriving a large sector of the African community from living
active lifestyles. The provision of opportunities to participate in sports and
other physical activities is not considered a priority in communities where
conditions of hunger and poverty are rampant. The aim of this paper is to highlight
the impact of poverty and urbanisation on African communities’ level of
participation in sport, physical education and recreation.
Key words:
Poverty,
urbanisation, physical inactivity, health, African societies.
Body composition of normal and malnourished rural South
African children aged 6-13 years: Ellisras Longitudinal Study
M.
Mantsena, K.D. Monyeki, M.A. Monyeki, J.S. Brits, A.L. Toriola, A.C.T. Kangolle
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the body composition of
normal and malnourished children aged 3 to 11 years. A total of 2198 children
aged 3 to 11 years who are part of the Ellisras Longitudinal Study were grouped
into 2066 normal and 132 stunted and 2070 normal and 128 wasted children using
–2 SD of NHANES cut off point. Body composition was evaluated using
anthropometric variables (weight, height, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac,
biceps skinfolds). The anthropometric variables were measured according to the
protocol of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry.
Children were categorized by the age groups as defined by Deitz (1999) for the
development of obesity in children. The study showed that percentage body fat
was high for the stunted children in the infancy and adipose rebound period
(16.8% and 15.3% of stunted children compare to 15.6 and 14.9% normal children
respectively), while the normal children had high significant percentage body
fat at the adolescence spurt (14.6% compared to 15.5%). Inversely, normal
children had high percentage body fat compared to wasting children throughout
the age category. The fact that stunted children exhibit high percentage body
fat at an early stage may clearly depict that stunting at an early stage of
this population may be associated with overweight. Further studies are required
to look into the development of obesity among children in this rural population
so as to combat this health epidemic at an early stage.
Key words: Percentage
body fat, malnutrition, obesity, rural South African children.
Physical and
performance-related profile of elite male South African distance runners
S.J.
Semple, N. Neveling and F. Rossouw
Abstract
Profiling the physical and performance related characteristics of
sportsmen and women is an integral component of research within a particular
sport. The purpose of this study was firstly to obtain a physiological profile
of elite male South African distance runners. Secondly, to verify the
correlation between peak treadmill velocity and distance running performance.
Thirdly, to determine if a correlation exists between leg strength
(quadriceps/hamstrings) and peak treadmill velocity. Anthropometry, isokinetic
strength and endurance and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)
evaluations were performed on male (n=23) distance athletes. The means and
standard deviations of the parameters are as follows: Percentage fat 8.0% (±1.3), percentage muscle
46.2% (±2.9), VO2max
70.1ml/kg/min (±5.2), peak RER 1.03 (±0.04), peak heart rate 187bpm (±10.8), peak velocity 20.2km/h (±1.4), peak lactate
8.25mmol.l-1, peak torque (PT) ft-lbs 60°/s right extensors
118.18 (±26.81), PT ft-lbs 60°/s left extensors 110.27
(±25.34), PT ft-lbs 60°/s right flexors 63.05 (±14.43), PT ftl-bs 60°/s left flexors 59.68 (±12.87), flexor/extensor
ratio 60°/s right 53.91% (± 9.05), flexor/extensor
ratio 60°/s left 53.27% (±11.02). Importantly, a
significant (p<0.05) correlation was found between isokinetic strength of
the quadriceps and peak treadmill velocity. Since peak treadmill velocity has
been identified as a strong predictor of performance it seems tenable that
enhancing muscular strength of the quadriceps could result in benefits for the
endurance athlete.
Key words: Distance
runners, strength, VO2max, peak treadmill velocity
Developing a body of knowledge
for sport marketing in Africa
C.H. van Heerden
Abstract
This paper aims
to stimulate the development of a scientific body of knowledge for sport
marketing in Africa. A review of current journals indicates that African
academics are not devoting sufficient attention to the development of a body of
knowledge for sport marketing. In this paper three scenarios are formulated
that contextualise sport marketing as a multi-dimensional discipline. Research
perspectives for each of the scenarios are proposed:
-
Scenario 1 (marketing
of sport) - the marketing of sport products and services, such as equipment
and facilities, which might be consumed by professional athletes or amateurs;
-
Scenario 2 (marketing
through sport) - the marketing of an organisation through its association,
such as a sponsorship, with sport events, teams or individuals; and
-
Scenario 3 (marketing
by sport) - the way sport bodies and codes market themselves and their
events to attract sponsorships participants, spectators, funding, and corporate
involvement.
It is
concluded that academics and practitioners should increase their effort to
develop a body of knowledge for sport marketing in Africa.
Key words: Sport
marketing, marketing of sport, marketing through sport, marketing by sport,
corporate involvement.
Comrades’ as a metaphor at
home and on the road
L. Human
Abstract
This paper is concerned
specifically with couples that run the comrades marathon in South Africa
together. The aim of this study was to explore how the metaphor of “comrades”
informs these couples’ relationships at home and on the road. A qualitative
research method was used within a social constructionist epistemology.
Interviews were done with the two couples that were selected through purposive
sampling. A discourse analysis was carried out to identify the discourses that
appeared important in these couples’ construction of the “comrades” metaphor at
home and on the road. In the case of couple A, they had constructed the
“comrades” metaphor at home and on the road completely differently. On the
contrary, couple B had extended their construction of the “comrades” metaphor
at home and on the road.
Key words:
Comrades, coupleship, social constructionism, discourse analysis.
An evaluation of human movement studies curricula of
Nigeria tertiary institutions
L.O. Amusa and A.L. Toriola
ABSTRACT
Curricula
of studies generally in most countries are dynamic, and continuous facets of
education process depicting changes and needs of societies. Tertiary
institutions as the upper echelon of education in Nigeria have experienced very
little changes in their curricula since the ‘70s, the only notable change being
the accreditation of academic programmes of the higher institutions initiated
by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in the early ‘80s. This is also
true of curricula of Physical and Health Education (PHE) offered by most
Universities and Colleges of Education in the country. The stagnation in the
PHE curricula does not reflect the numerous changes and transformations the
country has experienced over the past three decades. If higher education should
serve the needs of the people and the country, such needs must be reflected in
the curricula of studies of our institutions. Except for a few universities,
the focus of the PHE curricula in Nigeria has remained too dogmatic and
uninspiring. Presently all over the world the focus has shifted from merely
producing participants (e.g. athletes), teacher preparation, health education,
to preventive health, health and wellness of individuals, prevention of major
risk factors of life, etc. Hence the adoption of various nomenclatures such as
Human Movement Studies, Biokinetics, Human Kinetics, Sport, Exercise and
Nutritional Sciences, Kinesiology, Sport and Physical Rehabilitation Sciences,
Recreation and Leisure Sciences, etc to emphasise the focus. The current trend
of training in Human Movement Studies as practised in countries like USA,
Australia, Britain, Canada, South Africa, etc gives room for programme
diversification and specialisation and better jobs opportunities for students.
This paper therefore analyses the present PHE curricula of Nigeria tertiary
institutions, and the need for a change in curricula with a view to: (1)
adopting more focused nomenclatures, (2) developing diversified programmes of
study that cater for the current needs of the country and interests of
students, (3) creating more areas of specialization, focus and application, and
(4) creating better job opportunities for the students. The paper benchmarks
current trends and practices in Human Movement Studies in both developed and
developing countries of the world to justify the call for PHE curricula review.
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