PHYSICAL FITNESS STATUS OF PEOPLE ATTENDING RECREATION CENTRES IN GBOKO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to identify physical fitness status of people  attending recreation centres in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. To achieve this purpose, four specific objectives each with a corresponding  research question were  posed and eight hypotheses  were  postulated.  The  cross-sectional  survey  and  development  research  design activities were used for the study. The subjects consisted of 195 participants in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. There were five cases of mortality rate in the study. Four activities were used to test the participants for data collection. Seven experts teaching health and  physical  education  aided  in  collecting  the  data  using  the  designed  activities  by  the President Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (1998). Mean scores were used in analyzing data collected, while z-test statistics were used for verifying the eight hypothesis. The results of the study showed the level of  fitness and the level of recreation attainment in Gboko Local Government  Area of  Benue  State. The findings show that participants took part in various activities  for  keeping  themselves  fit and strong in order to carry out their daily activities effectively.  Also, it was revealed  that the government on its own paid no little attention to recreation activities in the area. The findings further showed the administrative quality  the owners had and the orderly conduct of the participants for a period of time. It also showed the dedication of the participants in the various activities and how they were able to contribute a little to the upkeep of the equipment and facilities. Lastly, based on the findings, the researcher suggested ways of improving the upkeep of the equipment and facilities, by contributing a little money in two months. Also continue in the spirit the  researcher met them and they should continue to love one another in performing their activities for fitness.

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

Background to the Study

People all over the world are becoming more and more health conscious. The priority has been shifting from everything else to the fact that the most important thing  in life, is to keep oneself in shape and fit, and to enjoy things in life (Hasselfor, 2007). According to Fine (1994), all individuals, old and young, need leisure and recreational activities to boost their mental health.  He further stated  that, in most cases, too little  emphasis  is given to leisure planning,  whereas,  it  is  important  to  plan  for  result-oriented  recreation  and  fitness,  for adolescent and adults including the aged, experience a sense of  joy and satisfaction when they participate in meaningful fitness activities.

American Association  for leisure and Recreation (2005) pointed  out that,  recreation when used correctly and to its fullest, will recreate the body, mind and spirit.  They further stated that, the need for recreation during leisure hours is of vital importance to all and sundry. People of all ages and sexes are subject to stress, generated both internally, from within and externally,  from the environment  and social systems.   In order to cushion the effects of all these various stresses on the individuals, recreation and fitness activities will remain avenues to regain one’s bearing and to promote mental and emotional well being.

According to Melgosa (2001), short and long term relaxation is highly positive, not only for the individual but also for society in general. The people of Gboko engage in different types of recreational activities. These activities are organized by individuals, religious bodies or group of people. But the government, on its own has not made any attempt, to modernize or sustain such activities. It is observed that these activities vary from one locality to another. These activities  are engaged  in the evening after work,  and  mostly on Saturdays,  by most people. The recreational activities are done by the  choice of the people, who may want to attend recreational centres. According to Onifade (2003), engaging in recreational activities

brings about benefits to the individuals by affecting positively their physical, social and mental health.

In today’s society, the effect, on human body, of physical and mental demands  and pressures may be thought of as stress. Everyone experiences stress.  Infact, a certain amount of stress is necessary to be able to perform the daily task of our lives, and to  ease this stress situation, is only by engaging in recreational activities (Adeniyi, 2000). It is on this note that Uzoalor (1999) maintained  that physical fitness is the organic  capacity of the individual to perform the normal tasks of daily living without undue tiredness, having a reserve of strength and energy available to meet satisfactorily any emergency demand.

Payne and Dale (1998)  revealed  that physical  fitness is achieved  when the  organic systems of the body are healthy and can function efficiently so as to resist disease to enable the fit  person  to  engage  in  vigorous  task  and  leisure  activities,  and  to  handle  situations  of emergency.  Uche (2000) indicated that physical fitness is that level of physical and mental efficiency which enables us to do our jobs efficiently, to take part in recreation with vigour and enjoyment. Uti and Ojeme (2002) described physical fitness as a body condition in which an individual is able to carry out efficiently all his or her expected daily activities without getting tired  and without  much pain in or being  hindered  by any part of his body or its system. According  to  Ajala  (1997),  physical  fitness  reflects  the  ability  to  work  with  vigour  and pleasure,  without  undue  fatigue,  with  energy  left  for  enjoying  hobbies  and  recreational activities and for meeting unforeseen emergencies.

As Akindeye (2007) rightly observed, physical fitness is the ability of and individual to have sufficient energy to perform one’s work effectively without unnecessary fatigue, an still have little reserved energy to enjoy social activities and  cope  with emergencies after work. According Ulrich (2007), physical fitness is the  ability of the human body to function with vigour  and  alertness,  without  undue  fatigue,  and  with  ample  energy  to  engage  in  leisure activities  and  to  meet  physical  stress.  The  study  also  included  married  and  unmarried

participants that attend various recreational centres in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue

State.

According to Hornby (2004) marriage is a legal union of a man and woman as husband and wife. Aldous (1993) looked at marriage as a relationship  of mutual  emotional support, merged  economy,  a mutually  advantageous  division  of  labour,  procreation  and  successful rearing of children. James (1993) revealed that marriage is by a  publicly announced contract that makes legitimate the sexual union of a man and woman.

With this explanation of what marriage is, it now shows that widows and  widowers belongs to the group of the married persons. Divorcees also are married persons even  though the two partners may not be living under the same roof as husband and wife, hence they may have children or not. This view was supported by (Horton and Hunt 2005).  Proceeding, they stated that unmarried persons are single person households.  According to the scholars, most of them  live with parents  or relatives  until they are  married.  There  have always  been some unmarried couples who live together openly as lovers rather than husband and wife.

The present study is on recreation and physical fitness. Therefore, it will be out of place to proceed without discussing recreation. It is on this point that Okunrotifa (1995) opined that recreation could be seen as an antidote to work. He continued stating that   recreation takes place during leisure. It is the opposite of work. It is not forced or imposed. Omoruan (1996) sees recreation as a mental and spiritual attitude, an attitude of the mind, a condition of the soul. He further stated that recreation is an experience or activity carried out during a period of leisure, voluntarily chosen and providing pleasure or a sense of well being.

Ogunwuiyi (1998) suggests that, recreation is a positive use of leisure time rather than pursuing vice and other idle pursuit, such as gambling, drinking alcohol and back biting. He further explained that recreation is a voluntary activity free from compulsion or obligation. It is that  act  which  is prompted  by an  internal  motivation  and  the  desire  to  achieve  personal satisfaction, rather than by extrinsic motive. Ogwo and Agu (1999) revealed that, recreation is

not only a way to keep mentally or physically in shape, but also a part of the social ritual that keeps them in touch with their culture. Adeniyi (2000) viewed recreation as freely chosen, enjoyable and beneficial leisure time, activity in which one voluntarily engages in because of the  joy and  satisfaction  derived  there  from.  He  also  affirmed  that  recreation renews  our strength and spirit after toil. Thus, it is regarded as a tool for mental and physical therapy, and for preparing the body for good performances.

Ogu  and  Eneogwe  (2002)  identified  recreation  as  the  devotion  of  time  in  a  non productive way, but which involves the refreshment  of our body or mind in an  active and participating manner. The relationship  between participation in active  recreational  activities and  physical  fitness  can  not  be  overemphasized.  This  is  because  participation  in  certain recreational  activities  provides  the  body the  opportunity  to  exercise  and  thereby  enhance physical  fitness.  The  United  States  Department  of  Health  and  Human  Services  (2001) described  recreation  as  the  physical  or  mental  activities  which  an  individual  voluntarily participates in during leisure time because of the enjoyment and satisfaction he or she gets in those activities. Agbo (2002) perceived recreation as activities one voluntarily engages in, and voluntarily withdraws from during one’s leisure hours for the purpose of refreshment of body and soul. He further stated that recreation is any action that refreshes the mental attitude of an individual, it is a wholesome activity that is engaged in for pleasure.

Recreation is a worthwhile activity, in which individuals engage in voluntarily, as they make activities of their choice, during their leisure hours after work. The importance of fitness to mankind, can never be over emphasized. According to Amber (2007), the cost of medical establishment  is in billions for treatment of diseases which could be lessened with exercise. Regular exercise should be 30 minutes, five days a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise for 3 days a week. Many studies involving both animals and human beings, show that physical activity brings about good body working conditions that  are beneficial to health and fitness. Exercise has been found to improve muscle strength and endurance. It also increases general

feeling  of well being and  efficiency of the  heart  to pump  blood  round  the  body and  the respiratory system to take oxygen (Pollock, Wilmore and Fox, 1984).

Dale  (1998)  opined  that,  a  programme  of  regular  aerobic  exercises  improve  the efficiency of one’s cardiorespiratory endurance, more specifically, regular exercises strengthen the muscles of the heart, enables the heart to pump more blood with fewer  strokes, thereby meeting, the demands one places on it, as a result, the heart rate may become slower than in the past. Steve (2002) stated that, fitness activities offer a broad  range of benefits, including the prevention of obesity,  improved  self confidence,  and  over  all sense of well being, provide general health and safety information. Uti and Ojeme (2002) affirmed that, physical fitness is of great importance to our lives. Thus, it includes living well and enjoyable life. This enables one to meet emergencies in one’s daily life and makes one’s body grow and develop properly.

Physical  fitness  has many components  that are aimed  at keeping  an individual  fit, depending on the area the individual is trying to develop; it could be the whole  body or a particular part of the body. The various components of physical fitness are: cardiorespiratory endurance,  flexibility,  muscular  strength,  leg  speed,  muscular  endurance,  power,  balance, agility and coordination (Uti and Ojeme, 2002). As important as being fit is, recreation is also another safety aspect of keeping the body and soul fit and healthy. According N.T.I. (1990), although recreation and exercise do not mean the  same thing, they can bring about physical fitness.  Michael (2005) pointed  out that,  recreation  is any action that refreshes the mental attitude of an individual, it is a  wholesome activity that gives pleasure. Social report (2005) emphasized that recreation plays an important role in social well being by providing people with a sense of identity and personal autonomy.

According  to  Nwankwo  (2006),  many  people  are  faced  with  the  stress  of   an economically stagnating economy. Recreation, on the other hand, is frequently accompanied with relaxation, which brings about a decrease in frustration, depression, tension and anxieties and,  hence,  a  possible  escape  from  the  degenerative   diseases   associated  with  anxiety

syndrome. Gorman (2002) demonstrated that recreational activities can help reduce alienation, loneliness and isolation, all of which contribute to depression. He further asserted that positive and enjoyable recreational experience can reduce stress, anxiety and psychological tension.

Ogu and Eneogwe (2006) indicated that modest physical activities in recreation change the  size  and  density of cholesterol  carrying  proteins,  thereby causing  less  damage  to  the cardiorespiratory systems. Furthermore, attempts have been made by various authors to explain what recreation is, and what activities can be obtained in the recreation centres. It is on this reason that Umeakuka (2006) revealed the following activities and their classifications as thus: Arts and crafts, drama, sports, games and athletes, hobbies, music, out door recreation, reading, waiting and speaking, social recreation, social events and voluntary service. Ogunwiyi (1998) maintained that, recreation donates activities such as music, drama, sports, board games, crafts and dance, which a person partakes in voluntarily during his free time after a hard days work, or on  the weekend. According to Adeniyi (2000), recreational activities include physical or outdoor  recreation,  that  is,  sports,  which  may be  vigorous,  moderate  or minimal,  such  as cycling, mountaineering, camping, etc, and indoor games such as ludo, ayo, chess and whot.

Recreation can be transformed into fitness by engaging in various recreational activities meant  to  keep  individuals  fit and  healthy.  According  to  Muhammed  (2006),  recreation  is refreshment for the body and mind. He further asserted that, the human body is like a machine and  for  it  to  run  well,  it  has  to  be  maintained,  indeed,  largely  because  of  the  special circumstances  of modern civilization and the eight hour work  day, periodic recreation  has become an essential element in the maintenance  package for  the prolongation of human life and to enhance mental health. The importance of recreation in the life of man can not be over emphasized,  it is indeed part and parcel of  good health that can be translated into physical fitness.

My choice  of  this  topic  was  instrumental  to  the  fact  that,  most  people  in  Gboko participate in various recreational activities, but, unfortunately,  no attention has been drawn by

any one or group to study what is on ground. Also, their health and fitness status is yet to be ascertained in order to rate and keep their records for future use by the students of physical education  or scholars,  neither  are the facilities  and equipment  tested to  know  their  proper functioning.

No available data or information on the study, where, even, the participants would lay their  hands  when  need  be.  According  to  Ngoka  (2007),  in  separate  studies,  found  that demographic factors such as gender, age, employment, status and income, affect recreational participation.  Also, the geographical  conditions  of state determine  the  kind  of recreational potentials that national parks can offer.

Means of providing these facilities and equipments when the old ones are worn out, was yet to be known, and how they will benefit from what they have been doing for years, was also  a hidden  factor.  These  were the reasons  that  gave rise  to  this research  work by the researcher to find out the hidden facts on those married and unmarried men and women taking part in these various recreation centres in Gboko  Local Government  Area of Benue State. According to Torkildsen  (1992), playful activities engagement  was  caused  by need to find compensating outlets to allow relaxation and recuperation from the tension and stress of work. Statement of the Problem

A lot of people in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State attend recreational centres for the purpose of recreating themselves in these centres. It is expected that those who are involved  in some recreation  activities  should  also  improve  their  fitness  status.  This  is because recreation activities can also impact on the fitness of the individual.

Despite  the  participation  of  people  of  Gboko  Local  Government  Area  in  some recreation activities, to the best knowledge of the researcher, there are  no records of any study to determine the fitness status of those attending recreational centres in the area. The absence of previous study on this subject matter in the area makes it difficult for one to know if the

attention of recreation centres in the area has in any way affected  the fitness status of  the people.

This study, being the first on fitness status of those attending recreational centres in Gboko Local Government Area, is interested to find out the status. The dearth of information in the area is what has given rise to this study. The study will attempt to determine the fitness status of those attending  recreational  centres.  This may address the  issue of whether those attending recreational centres have adequate fitness level or not. It was as a result of this note that, the researcher  went into research to find out these  problems on ground. According to Ngoka (2007), Natural parks are not effectively utilized for recreational activities, inspite of enough recreational potentials within them.

In the study, physical fitness is very important here, because men and women who take part in recreational activities, do that for recreation which has a relationship with fitness. Also, physical fitness promote enjoyable regular physical activity, and reporting programmes for the participants (Marilu and Gregory, 1999). They further maintained that  physical fitness provide the participants with the personal information regarding his fitness status, this can, then, be used as basis for designing individualized programmes of fitness development.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study was to determine the physical fitness status of people  attending recreation centres in Gboko Local Government  Area of Benue State.  Specifically, the study seeks to determine:

1.     The   aerobic   capacity   of   people   attending   recreation   centre,   in   Gboko   Local

Government Area of Benue State;

2.     the  hamstring  flexibility  of  people  attending  recreation  centres  in  Gboko   Local

Government Area of Benue State;

3.     the abdominal and low back strength of people attending recreation centres in Gboko

Local Government Area of Benue State; and

4.     The  upper  body  strength  of  people  attending  recreation  centres  in  Gboko  Local

Government Area of Benue State.

Research questions

In the course of the study, the following questions were formulated to guide the work.

1.     What is the aerobic capacity status of   people attending recreation centres in Gboko

Local Government Area of Benue State?

2.     What is the hamstring flexibility status of people attending recreation centres in Gboko

Local Government Area of Benue State?

3.     What  is the abdominal  and low back strength status of people attending  recreation centres in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State?

4.     What is the upper body strength status of people attending recreation centres in Gboko

Local Government Area of Benue State?

Research Hypothesis

The following hypothesis were postulated and tested at 0.05 alpha level of significant to further guide the study;

1.        There is no statistical  significant  difference  in the mean scores  of aerobic  capacity status of married and unmarried  men attending  recreational centres in  Gboko  Local Government Area of Benue State.

2.        There is no statistical  significant  difference  in the mean scores  of aerobic  capacity status of married and unmarried women attending recreational centres in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

3.        There is no statistical significant difference in the mean scores of hamstring flexibility status of married and unmarried  men attending  recreational centres in  Gboko  Local Government Area of Benue State.

4.        There is no statistical significant difference in the mean scores of hamstring flexibility status of married and unmarried women attending recreational centres in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

5.        There is no statistical significant difference in the mean scores of abdominal and low back strength status of married and unmarried men attending recreational  centres in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

6.        There is no statistical significant difference in the mean scores of abdominal and low back strength status of married and unmarried women attending recreational centres in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

7.        There is no statistical significant difference in the mean scores of upper body strength status of married and unmarried  men attending  recreational centres in  Gboko  Local Government Area of Benue State.

8.        There is no statistical significant difference in the mean scores of upper body strength status of married and unmarried women attending recreation centres in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

Significance of the Study

This  study  provided  information  on  physical  fitness  status  of  people   attending recreation  centres  in Gboko  Local Government  Area of Benue State.  Additionally,  it will encourage the participants to continue taking part in various recreation centres. The study may help to evaluate the level of participation by the participants in terms of physical fitness. The research may aid the participants to develop  more interest in recreational activities that will lead into the development of fitness programmes.  The findings will help the public to develop positive attitudes towards participation in recreational activities, which will lead to fitness.

The research may help the participants to acquire more knowledge of the importance of physical fitness in our daily activities. The finding will be of interest to those participating in recreational centres, by providing them with records of their general physical fitness status.

Each information could be motivating to the research participants to continue participating in physical fitness activities, even after the completion of the study. It may serve as data base for those  wishing  to  study on such  a  topic  in  future,  as  well  as  those  intending  to  join  the participants who already have been spending their time wisely in those recreational activities.

The study generated data on how the recreational owners were involved in management of equipment and facilities, and also, running the administration of their areas. The study, also, provides information on how people are motivated to participate in various recreation activities by both the owners and those who are regular participants. The information gathered here will be useful to physical education teachers and students in various schools that may be willing to learn the subject. The information serves as a guide to recreation owners and future researchers aiming to study recreation and fitness in Gboko Local Government. The study also shows the level of maturity, tolerance and cooperation  exhibited by the participants,  both married and unmarried men and women.

Finally, engaging in recreational activities is to bring fitness and health. According to Marilu and Gregory (1999), fitness activities have been rooted in physiology, that, health is for every one,  is for a life  time and is personal.  Further  more,  its result  will be  used in the development  of some other centres  in the area,  for the development  of  sound  fitness and removal of stress.

Scope of the Study

The current study was delimited to recreational centres owned by individuals, religious bodies and clubs in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. The centres are: Gboko Club, Gboko Scrabble, Dooshima Cards Club, Anyiman, Gboko Volunteers Basket. Ball and neighborhood  Ayo  club.  The study was  further  delimited  to the  following  components  of physical fitness as given by Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (1998). They are: Aerobic capacity, hamstring flexibility, abdominal and lowback strength and upper body strength.

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