The impact of physical activity on health: A 10-week walking intervention for educators
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if increasing physical activity levels, through a 10-week walking intervention program, impacts the health of current and retired educators, ages 40 to 70 years. To determine the health status of participants, three fitness components involving six health measures were utilized. Pedometers and log books were also used to motivate and measure physical activity levels. Emphasis for this study was on accomplishing the objective of becoming more physically active instead of emphasizing the attainment of high levels of performance. The sample population included 93 participants (females n=75, males n=18). Ethnic make-up included 79 Caucasian and 14 African American participants. The mean age of the sample group was 54 years (females=53.4 years, males=56.9 years). The single group, pre-test, post-test format was conducted over a ten-week period (week 1 - pre-test and baseline, weeks 2–10 intervention, followed by post-test). Results. Findings of dependent t-tests showed a significant increase in the average daily step totals and significant improvements in health for all six of the health measures (six minute walk test, resting heart rate and blood pressure, body mass index, waist girth, and the sit-and-reach flexibility test). However, findings of the Stepwise Regression showed a significant, positive relationship between increased activity levels and three of the six health measures (diastolic blood pressure, waist girth, and the sit-and-reach flexibility test). Conclusions. These findings suggest that there is a significant relationship between increasing physical activity levels and improved health for educators. Results of this study also suggest that it is possible to increase physical activity levels using pedometers at little or no expense to school systems, which is particularly relevant for school districts under continued budgetary constraints and rising costs.
Subject Area
School administration|Physical education
Recommended Citation
Amy L Caulkins,
"The impact of physical activity on health: A 10-week walking intervention for educators"
(2007).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI3260216.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI3260216