Study of an exercise program for enhancement of students' flexibility in Bishop Stuart primary teachers' college Mbarara city Uganda

Abstract

This study aimed at applying an exercise program to enhance students' physical flexibility in BSPTC. The study employed an experimental design with 94 participants; of these 32 (34%) were male and 62 (56%) were female aged 19-24 years. The subjects were assigned randomly to either treatment group or control group. Modified training program designed to suit the case study was employed in which a one-hour physical flexibility training exercise was done four times a week for six weeks. Variations in physical flexibility levels of the participants over a period of six weeks were measured and monitored before and after the training. Standardized sit-and-reach test box was used to measure the flexibility level of the participants. Data were processed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 11 and descriptive statistic were used to analyze the data gathered through the sit-and reach test. Difference between the pre-test and post-test of both the intervention and control group was determined using T-test. The study revealed that a significant proportion of the respondents (19%) spent extended time (11 to 14 hours) sitting without participating in any physical activity. The study established that the mean pre-intervention physical flexibility level of the student in BSPTC was 39.14 cm with standard deviation of 4.95. The T-test conducted for the two outcome variables demonstrated significant difference between the pre and post flexibility test of the intervention group (p=0.000) across all age group (19-24 years), but not the control group. The study concluded that 18% of the students do not engage in any form of physical activity. Student of Bishop Stuart Primary Teachers ' College had very low level of flexibility. The training program was effective in improving flexibility level of the students in BSPTC. Based on these facts, the study recommends that: the administration should plan and enforce physical activity programs in their learning institutions. Flexibility should be emphasized in the training program of the students in BSPTC. The training program employed in this study should be implemented in BSPTC and other Primary Teachers' Colleges.