HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE STUDENTS’ SATISFACTION DEGREE AFTER PRACTICING SPECIFIC AQUAGYM PROGRAMS AS AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Introduction. The aquatic environment offers numerous exercise opportunities with a focus on achieving sports performance, as well as a number of beneficial effects compared to the terrestrial environment. The biological adaptation to aquagym-specific exercises, supported by the physical properties of the aquatic environment, is the response of the body to physical stimuli leading to ameliorative changes in body functions. The novelty of the activity and the relative ease of this form of physical exercise stimulated and motivated the female participants in an aquagym program carried out in the 1st semester of the school year 2021-2022. Objective. Our statement is supported by the results obtained from carrying out a satisfaction survey which aimed to highlight the impact of aquatic recreational activities, namely aquagym, and the effectiveness of the means selected in the operational programs on motor and functional capacity. Materials and Methods. The study included 37 high school female students, aged 16-17, from “Carol I” National College in Craiova. In order to optimize the students’ motor skills, an aquagym-specific program of exercises was developed and carried out along 12 sessions of 50 minutes each. At the end of the program, an opinion questionnaire was administered addressing high school female students’ degree of satisfaction with the content of aquagym sessions. Results. The application of the questionnaire-based satisfaction survey highlighted the advantages of practicing aquagym ranging from bio-motor benefits, such as the increase in flexibility, balance and muscular strength, to aspects outlining the improvement in some components of quality of life. The result of this survey confirms that the aquagym program was appreciated by the students who became aware of the positive effects obtained. Conclusions. Our students’ participation in aquagym-specific programs revealed the need to improve the educational offer of the school subject Physical Education and to harmonize the contents of the classes with students’ options. The analysis of the survey findings shows that the students rated the recreational content higher than the effects on motor skills and, surprisingly, a very small percentage of the students appreciated the effects on body shaping.