Effects of utilizing traditional Igbo Art and cultural activities as informal education curricula for decelerating sarcopenia and dynapenia among old people in Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of flesh or muscle mass in the body while dynapenia is the loss of muscle strength. With Igbo art and cultural activities as a baseline for interventions, the specific objectives of this study were to (i) find out the degree to which Traditional Igbo Art and Cultural Activities can help to improve muscle strength among the participants, (ii) ascertain the types of Traditional Igbo Art and Cultural Activities that old people prefer, and (iii) assess the level to which Traditional Igbo Art and Cultural Activities can improve old people’s cognitive well-being. The 2-week quasi- experiment was conducted in Arochukwu, Oboro, and Ohafia in Abia State, Umuchu in Anambra State, and Ehime-Mbano in Imo State. From the initial 100 (N=100), (n=50) retirees were selected for the exercise. The study tool was the Traditional Igbo Art and Cultural Activities Treatment Syllabus (TIACA-TS), with the subjects: (i) Basketry/rope weaving, (ii) Mud wall plastering/design, (iii) Hairstyling/haircutting, (d) Makeup/body adornment, (iv) Thatch weaving, (v) Clay moulding, (vi) Cloth weaving/embroidery, and (vii) Wood carving/joinery. The secondary instrument was the Traditional Igbo Art and Cultural Activities Response Score Card (TIACA-RSC). Scores between 7-10 were rated High, 4-6, average, and 1-3, low. The cumulative scores per subject were converted to percentage equivalents and discussed. The findings showed that art forms that encouraged weaving, embroidery, and painting were preferred by the old people. While dynapenia was significantly treated, sarcopenia was minimally handled.