Describes how to include a parents' fitness night in fitness education courses in order to gain parents' support of comprehensive fitness education and fitness for life, outlining one such program that has been successfully employed in Texas junior high schools which has helped parents understand fitness programs and become more involved in their…

The authors' purpose in this action study was to examine the effect of a 10-week intervention, using the Disconnected Values Model (DVM), on changes in selected measures of fitness, blood lipids, and exercise adherence among 51 university faculty (10 men and 41 women) from a school in the southeastern United States. The DVM is an intervention…

This guide is intended for use with the frail elderly, and as a start-off point for the well elderly who may not be engaged in an exercise program. Following a discussion on the values of an exercise program for older adults, suggestions are made for motivating participants to exercise. Precautions before, during, and after exercise are discussed.…

Physical education should primarily promote health-related physical fitness, characterized by an ability to perform daily activities with vigor, and demonstration of traits and capacities associated with low risk of premature development of inactivity-related diseases. (Author/CB)

Students' self-testing experiences and the proper use of reinforcement by teachers are components of the ongoing process to shape fitness behaviors during the school years and beyond. (IAH)

Exercises and classroom activities that familiarize students with the "human body machine" are the focus of this article which addresses the decline in elementary student health and fitness. A reproducible worksheet, "Benefits of Exercise Worksheet", is included. (IAH)

Objectives and activities of the cardiovascular (CV) fitness program Super Kids--Superfit are related in this article. This exercise program is one component of the Heart Smart Program, a CV health intervention model for elementary school students. Program evaluation, parent education, and school and community intervention strategies are…

This article describes "Physical Best," a physical fitness educational plan that provides teachers with a plan designed to educate children to be physically fit for the rest of their lives. (IAH)

The process of a 1992 consensus conference that examined relationships among physical activity, fitness, and health variables is described. The conference involved internationally known scientists with relevant expertise. The paper discusses potential sources of physical activity, the benefits of physical activity, the possible harmful effects of…

Data on the dose-response gradient for the relation of physical activity or physical fitness to health and function are reviewed, refuting the idea that physical activity programs are either exercise for health or for fitness and suggesting that the key factor is the total energy expenditure of the activity. (SM)

Study tested the effect of exercise programs on bone mineral content (BMC) and BMC/bone width in 31 postmenopausal women. Subjects were placed in groups with aerobic exercise, aerobics plus upper-body weight training, or no exercise. Results indicate that regular exercise programs positively affect bone mineral maintenance in postmenopausal women.…

Fitness trails for senior adults are being developed in retirement communities and community parks nationwide to enhance total fitness through activities that build cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, strength, and balance. Recreation planners must create fitness trails that are interesting, enjoyable, safe, and appropriate for the senior…

Exercise can help decrease pain and improve function in people with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Physicians must provide individualized, realistic, enjoyable exercise programs that help affected joints, build fitness, and maximize patient compliance. Physicians must also provide appropriate follow-up care, adjusting the exercise program…

A well-developed playground in a park or school setting can greatly enhance childen's overall development, making playgrounds more than just fun. Playgrounds offer children opportunities to develop physically, mentally, and socially, improving academic readiness as well as overall health. The paper discusses the importance of movement, how…

This article presents an excerpt from "Physical Activity for Children: A Statement of Guidelines for Children Ages 5-12 (2nd Edition)" by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education. This excerpt outlines 4 guidelines in promoting age-appropriate physical activities for children with corresponding interpretations. Among other things,…