Movimiento Humano y Salud

12

Authors: Lourdes Arce Espinoza,Julián Monge-Nájera

The prevalence of Arterial Hypertension (AHT) has increased worldwide and preventive measures are insufficient since only one third of the population is being treated. AHT is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. In this article is presented the first study on hypertension levels of personnel of a Distance Education university based on the analysis of all medical consultations in the Costa Rican State University for Distance Education (Universidad Estatal a Distancia-UNED) as of December 15, 2007 (1,526 medical files). The population studied ranges from 20 to 70 years of age and is comprised of residents of the Greater Metropolitan Area (Costa Rica) with varied socioeconomic and academic levels. The Statgraphics Centurion XV software and the chi-square test were used to analyze variables such as treatment administered, sex, age, and type of work. Only 45 patients knew that they suffered from hypertension prior to their consultation with the university medical service and 136 were treated with Enalapril and Hydrochlorothiazide. The number of hypertensive patients is higher among those who have worked at the institution for more than 20 years, especially in those holding higher positions. No marked differences were found between men and women. It is concluded that the existence of a university medical service has permitted faculty and staff to satisfactorily control their blood pressure.

15

Authors: Pedro Ureña Bonilla

The aim of this study was to analyze the quality of life of faculty and staff of the Presbítero Benjamín Núñez Campus of Universidad Nacional(UNA, Costa Rica) as well as to assess the influence of two factors, sense of coherence and physical exercise, in the quality of life of the subjects. A group of 37 faculty members and 30 staff members participated in the study. The SF-36 Questionnaire, the Sense of Coherence Scale, and a survey to measure physical exercise habits were used. In general, results showed a relatively good quality of life and similar scores were found in the Sense of Coherence Scale. Additionally, significant connections were found between certain factors related to sense of coherence and quality of life. Data confirmed that persons who practice physical exercise have a better quality of life than those who are not physically active. It was concluded that, although quality of life and sense of coherence were relatively good, new proposals must be designed and implemented to improve both aspects. In this sense, physical exercise proved to be one of the pillars in the development of innovative proposals aimed at bettering health in university employees, all of this within the “Healthy Universities” concept.

8

Authors: María Morera Castro

Communities, neighborhoods, and other environments are currently immersed in a series of situations and problems that have favored the deterioration of social, cultural and spiritual values, which are essential for harmony with oneself, others, and the environment. Stereotypes have captured minds and settings have been reduced to indoor spaces, hemmed in by security bars and protective devices. Peace, fraternity and happiness are diminishing. It is at this point that the social, spiritual and professional work of specialists in the recreational field contributes to rescue and restructure society. Traditional games and singing games are then the tools used to facilitate relationships, contribute to the learning process, and exhibit skills. They are fundamental in a person’s life since they are a social and cultural expression of how humans have adapted to their environment (Maestro, 2005). They do not take ethnicity, age, sex or social conditions into consideration. Traditional games are also a way of promoting health, improving motor, cognitive and emotional skills and a means of encouraging creativity and imagination and developing a sense of rhythm. Their goal is to attain a state of personal well-being. They are a way to release tension and accumulated energy and to get away from the daily routine. They represent a bridge to learn about oneself, the environment, values, habits, and traditions. In this document, readers will learn how traditional games are transmitted, what their characteristics are, why they are an important tool in today’s society, how they are prepared, and how they can be revived and preserved.

12

Authors: Carlos Álvarez Bogantes

Despite the worship of beauty that has ruled this globalized society and the importance of physical activity for the prevention of cardio-degenerative diseases (US.DHHS, 1996), sedentary behavior continues to increase in the population. What strategies can be used by professionals of human movement to make the population physically active? It is at this point where the Transtheoretical Model appears as an innovative option that greatly surpasses the classic short-term biological interventions, which have focused on momentary changes produced by physiological values. This model has great potential since it offers the theoretical basis that makes the acquisition of an active behavior possible. This article explains the theoretical basis of the transtheoretical model,including the way to assess the stages of change and to develop different strategies to make the person active by using behavioral processes and processes of change.

5

Authors: María Antonieta Ozols Rosales

Summary: Disability is a term to describe any physical deficiency, mental or sensorial that may affect mainly activities of a person and you can classify disabilities in: cognitive, sensorial and physical. Physical Activity is described as any activity that involves a contraction of the muscles resulting in caloric intake. Exercise means a plannified, structured and repeated activity guided toward a goal or objective. Inactivity may cause the main principle of death in the world. People became sedentary as a result of health problems such as heart diseases, overweight, cancer, diabetes, and so on. Physical activity may reduce probabilities to acquired heart diseases. People with disabilities can reduce also many health problems trough physical activity. Down syndrome people tend to gain weight through their life increasing the risk of heart diseases; cerebral palsy people reduce their range of motion through inactivity causing contractures problems and pain in their articulations. Therefore, it is necessary to create programs to promote physical activity in this population.

17

Authors: Fabián Víquez Ulate; Gerardo Araya Vargas

The objective of this study was to determine the importance of different dimensions as the possible causes for the abandonment of the practice of swimming by former Costa Rican swimmers. Subjects: 51 former swimmers participated, including 17 men (22 ±3.4 years of age) and 34 women (22.5 ±3.4 years of age) from different Costa Rican swimming teams. The Questionnaire of Reasons for Attrition in the Practice of Sports (Gould et al, 1982; cited by Salguero, Tuero, and Márquez, 2003) was used. Results: A positive relationship was noted between perceptions of low skill and low performance (r: 0.372), while negative relationships were noted between years of practice and low skill (r:-0.337), years of practice and influence from others (r:-0.286), and years of practice and starting age for swimming (r:-0.622). A significant interaction was found in the dimensions gender of participants (F: 2.952; p<0.05) and starting age for swimming (F: 3.147; p<0.01). An interaction was also found between dimensions and the desire to swim again (F: 2.485; p>0.05). There were also significant differences in the years of practice; that is, subjects who started before the age of 10 had a higher average of years of practice than those who started later (F: 21.465; p<0.05). Additionally, a significant interaction was found in weekly hours of swimming practice (F: 2.072; p<0.05). There were no significant differences (F: 2.535; p>0.05) according to weekly hours of training when subjects were actively swimming. Conclusions: Possible reasons for dropping out were lack of enjoyment and poor physical condition for men and perception of lack of team spirit for women. The group that started after the age of ten gives similar importance to all the dimensions as possible reasons for dropping out, while the group that began swimming before the age of ten sees lack of team spirit, lack of enjoyment, and poor physical condition as the key reasons for dropping out. The most important dimensions that represented the reasons for abandonment in subjects who wanted to swim again were lack of team spirit, poor physical condition and low skill, while lack of enjoyment was the most important reason for subjects who do not want to swim again. In the group of subjects who would swim less than six hours, lack of team spirit is the most important cause, while the dimension lack of enjoyment was the most important reason for subjects who would swim 6 to 12 hours. Additionally, the highest dropout percentages were observed in the transition from secondary school to college.

8

Authors: Delgado Acosta Henry; Acuña Corrales Ernesto

The objective of this study was to determinate the effect of an aerobic exercise program and a weight circuit program on the quality of life, dyspnea and cardiorespiratory resistance in subjects with Chronic Pulmonary Disease (CPD). Methodology: the rehabilitation program was conducted for eight weeks, including a pre-test and a post-test, one on-site supervised session per week and two home sessions with direct telephone communication. Instruments: the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire was used to measure quality of life, the Borg Scale to measure dyspnea, and the Six Minute Walk Test to measure cardiorespiratory resistance. Subjects: 38 patients previously diagnosed with CPD, 18 men and 20 women; 27 subjects with an obstructive pathology and 11 with a restrictive pathology, with an average age of 69.8 ± 9.34 years. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups: one did aerobic exercises (22 subjects) and the other one did aerobic exercises and resistance training (16 subjects). Statistical Analysis: Four-Way ANOVA (2x2x2x2) for the variables sex, treatment, and pathology. Results: significant differences were found between measurements of the following variables: dyspnea (pre-test: 7.18 ± 0.69 points and post-test: 4.89 ± 0.68 points) (F = 228.770; p <0.05), quality of life (pre test: 59.68 ± 7.50 points and post-test 81.75 ± 7.33 points ) (F = 228.770; p < 0.05), cardiorespiratory resistance (pre-test 384.95 ± 51.02 mts. and post-test 432 ± 37.41 mts.) (F: 59.9; p<0.01). However, no differences were found in sex, activity program or disease (p>0.05), or any interaction between variables p>0.05). Conclusion: aerobic and anaerobic exercises improve the degree of dyspnea, the quality of life, and the cardiorespiratory resistance in CPD patients.

11

Authors: María Morera-Castro

The purpose of this article is to offer the design and infrastructure parameters necessary to have safe playgrounds since they represent a unique opportunity to foster an integral development, particularly in children. In these public places, children learn to resolve conflicts to continue playing, having fun, and developing. These recreational areas then become learning places that foster the formation process and provide great social, emotional, physical, cognitive, intellectual, and spiritual benefits. However, such benefits are diminished by the lack of interest of the communities and the adult population to optimize playground conditions and by unscrupulous developers, who design playgrounds in inappropriate places putting the population at risk. Therefore, the following must be taken seriously into consideration before, during, and after the construction of a playground: design, construction, materials, equipment, components and the procedures to meet the necessary safety requirements and the objective for which they were created, that being an area designed, equipped, and located exclusively for playing that facilitates the integral development of the population. Consequently, it is urgent for Costa Rica to enact clear regulations that guarantee the construction, design, and use of playgrounds that do not put the population’s health at risk, prevent accidents, and guarantee the inalienable rights of each Costa Rican.

20

Authors: María Morera Castro y Lic. Ariana Serrano Madrigal

Obstacle courses are an activity that brings a group of people together, in which teams are organized to navigate an established route during a set period of time, completing tasks (clues, riddles, or challenges) to meet a defined goal. Rules and safety norms are explained to all participants; however, they are not informed of the location of the clues, riddles, or challenges. The following should be considered when organizing an obstacle course: objective, topic to be developed, location, materials needed, clues, riddles or challenges that may be included, and how to supervise that all teams pass the checkpoints. Like any other activity with a touch of competitiveness, fair play and respect should be above any interest. If, for any reason, any of the teams has an emergency, solidarity should prevail, and the activity can be used to teach values. An adventurous spirit is also essential in this activity. The desire for the unknown and the new challenges individuals and groups. This activity helps groups of friends, children, adults, families, etc. share a nice and healthy day together in contact with nature, rescuing concepts such as cooperation, cleverness and, particularly, team work.