Effectiveness of a free exercise program in a neighborhood park

Bing Han,Deborah A Cohen,Kathryn P Derose,Terry Marsh,Stephanie Williamson,Steven Loy

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.03.010

Abstract

BackgroundFaculty, students, and alumni in a university-based kinesiology program developed an innovative model for health promotion practice by partnering with the local park administration in San Fernando, California to offer these exercise classes for free in a low-income, predominantly Latino neighborhood park. The classes were taught by students as practical training for academic credit. PurposeThe aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of this pilot program in promoting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. MethodsWe used the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) to assess physical activity in the park during the summer of 2013. We evaluated the effectiveness of the free classes by a within-park comparison and by comparing findings with 50 other parks. ResultsThe classes substantially increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activities, in particular, for female park users. However, when classes were not offered there were no differences in park-based physical activity across parks. ConclusionsActive programming can increase park-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, but without programming, people may lack the motivation to exercise on their own. Creating a partnership between parks and kinesiology programs is a promising health promotion model. Replicating this type of program could yield important health dividends.

Highlights

Few American adults achieve the national physical activity guidelines (Troiano et al, 2008), which call for 150 min of moderate-tovigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week (USDHHS, 2008)
Much of the existing national physical activity promotion has not been directed at physical activity programming but instead on motivational campaigns like “Verb” (Huhman et al, 2007) and the “Let's Move” campaign, both of which have targeted youth rather than adults
To determine the program's impact on promoting park-based MVPA, we examined park use and physical activity in the neighborhood park where it is offered in San Fernando, CA

Summary

Introduction

Few American adults achieve the national physical activity guidelines (Troiano et al, 2008), which call for 150 min of moderate-tovigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week (USDHHS, 2008). This is of great concern, because of the well-known association between physical inactivity, chronic diseases, and higher health costs (Blair, 2009; Colditz, 1999; Oldridge, 2008). Students, and alumni in a university-based kinesiology program developed an innovative model for health promotion practice by partnering with the local park administration in San Fernando, California to offer these exercise classes for free in a low-income, predominantly Latino neighborhood park. Replicating this type of program could yield important health dividends

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Conclusion