Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: November | Volume: 10 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 211-219
Awareness about Hazards of Physical Inactivity, Advantages and Participation in Physical Activity and Its Components in Junior College Students – A Questionnaire Based Study
Mahek Soni1, Aditi Ketkar Berry2
1Final year student, Deccan Education Society’s, Brijlal Jindal College of Physiotherapy, Fergusson college campus, Pune- 411004
2Assistant Professor, Deccan Education Society’s, Brijlal Jindal College of Physiotherapy, Fergusson college campus, Pune- 411004
Corresponding Author: Aditi Ketkar Berry
ABSTRACT
Background: Physical inactivity has become a major cause of concern. Along with the numerous ill effects on an individual’s health, it poses great economic burden. Recommended levels of physical activity can help to avert the hazards and have protective effects on our body. Lifestyle changes made at an early age will help in adherence and reduction in chances of co morbidities related to sedentary behaviour.
Objective: To evaluate the awareness about hazards of physical inactivity or sedentary behaviour, advantages of physical activity and level of participation in various forms of physical activities.
Methodology: A questionnaire comprising domains of hazards of sedentary behaviour, advantages of physical activity and participation in various forms of physical activity was designed. Post face validation, it was circulated via electronic media among junior college students. Data was collected over a period of four weeks; it was then analyzed and represented as descriptive statistics.
Results: Total of 752 junior college students participated in the study. The study participants were well aware about the hazards of physical inactivity and benefits of physical activity. However many of them did not meet the recommended physical activity levels. Only 26.3% and 41% of the study participants were involved in strength training and flexibility training .Not many of them were involved in warm up and cool down phases.
Conclusion: Though the awareness about advantages of physical activity and hazards of physical inactivity was good, not many of the study participants met the recommended levels of physical activity. Inclusion of strength and flexibility training in workout sessions was low. Thus there is scope of creating awareness about these important aspects of physical activity.
Key words: Awareness, hazards of sedentary behaviour, Physical activity levels, Junior college students, Questionnaire.