Lack of physical fitness

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 1

Lack of physical fitness

The image of the fit New Zealander was a false one . . . the majority of adult New Zealanders fell far short of physical fitness, Mrs P. G. Wood, formerly a teacher at the School of Physiotherapy in Dunedin, said at the national conference of the Society of Physiotherapists in Christchurch yesterday.

Mrs Wood said that her experience tended to show that unless a person’s occupation demanded it, the amount of exercise taken by the average healthy man or woman in New Zealand aged more than 30 was minimal. One survey of patients showed that 75 per cent had not participated in any activity which would have main-

tained a degree of physical fitness since they were 25.

It was difficult to state categorically that from a physical point of view exercise was beneficial to people with coronary heart disease, but it was believed to be a help in reducing morbidity and it appeared to enable the patient to lead a fuller life, however long or short that might be, said Mrs Wood.

In 1969 heart disease was responsible for 35 per cent of the deaths in New Zealand and the figures indicated that heart disease was affecting increasing numbers of younger men.

As long as exercise was thought to be beneficial to health, physiotherapists were in a position to help reverse the trend of New Zealanders being spectators of sport rather than participants, said Mrs Wbod. Formal exercise programmes had, limited appeal. Totalitarian states recognised the benefits of exer-

cise by enforcing exercise periods during working hours.

“Our national sports tend to be highly competitive, thus eliminating those of us who do not aspire to All Black or Olympic Games standards,” said Mrs Wood.

“Participation in sport for its own sake is not as prevalent as it should be. The pace of life is such that we no longer have time for the recreation required to be of benefit. Walking is probably the only activity all of us can do well, but few of us bother. “The public requires more than to be told that more physical activity is necessary for their health; they must be encouraged and given more openings to activities which they will enjoy. “Physical educationists are well aware of the deficiencies in a system in which they have contact with those under 18, but where large

: numbers of other people ’ needing physical education remain unenlightened,” said Mrs Wood. Mrs Wood outlined, to the conference the case histories of 12 patients to illustrate trends on the rehabilitation of persons suffering coronary heart disease. These patients had taken part in an exercise programme initiated three months after a heart attack, followed by general sporting activities done —preferably with a group—with the formal programme continuing in the patient’s home. In her summary of points arising from the case histories, Mrs Wood said that there was still room for improvement in the attitudes of employers towards those with heart disease, although there had been some improvement with greater publiicty given to the condition as a result of efforts by the National Heart Foundation.