Physical Activity: From 4,000BC to Present Day - Essay Sample

Introduction

Physical activity history participation dates back between 4,000BC and the fall of the Roman Empire in the year 476AD when the era of civilization rose before it fell due to war and conquest (Hoffman, 2009). Despite the move by the Greeks and the Romans of imposing physical training on young men and boys in preparation for war, they embraced physical training as an essential part of education. In the same case, the participation of physical activity in the United State is classified into three different periods which are characterized by different physical activity participation.

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1840-1900 Period

In this period, physical activity participation was characterized by religion that consisted of the integration of body, mind, and soul whereby the perspective consideration of this integration was seen as important in keeping the individual body healthy to maintain good mental functioning and maximum moral reasoning (CDC, 2011). To achieve this, more vigorous physical activity was recommended for boys and men as well as a moderate physical activity among girls and women. As the century progressed, the United State was also characterized by the European system of gymnastics activity. This was mainly common among the Germans and Swedish who had gained a foothold in America. The Americans further increased their interest in YMCAs, YWCAs as well as in parks and playgrounds. Additionally, the idea of sport was popular among the United State Immigrant who manly practices various sports activities such as American baseball, rugby, and football. In the same period, physical activity classes, as well as gymnastics, were preeminent in schools and college. Also, the idea of intercollegiate sports was practiced in promoting community sense due to the increased diversity of students. Also due to few opportunities available for college women, sporting activities were included in women's classes.

1900-1950 Period

While on this period, all men sports activities such as baseball, boxing, horse racing as well as American college football were common and with a lot of fans. In the same case, there was an increasingly competitive in girls and women sport though very subdued compared to those of boys and men. While in colleges and schools, the idea of internal sports competition was introduced in the curriculums for girls and women by the physical female educators in order to encourage girls and women to participate (Olson & Thornton, 2011). Moreover, in the same period, the need for physical training was discovered by the U.S military during World war I. Also in the same period, World war II renewed the interest of the people in physical activities. This was facilitated through expanding of physical activity in schools and colleges by educators.

1900-1950 Period

During this stage, a dramatic increase in health-related physical activities has been experienced in the U. S. These activities were facilitated by a number of events such as the Korean War which proved the importance of physical fitness among the military in their preparedness. The period was characterized by increased health clubs whereby various sports activities such as marathon and road race of short distances increased in the United State (Lubans et al, 2009). As time progressed, these activities have been experienced to be replaced by other leisure activities whereby individuals are seen to prefer activities with easy access, easer to learn, and also those that can be completed in a single day without requiring much technical gear. While at the same time, other physical sporting activities such as little league baseball has been established to be popular. Currently, sporting activities such as football and basketball have been established to be the most dominating in popularity in the United State.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC. (2011). Physical activity levels of high school students---United States, 2010. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 60(23), 773.

Hoffman, S. J. (2009). Introduction to kinesiology: studying physical activity. Human Kinetics.

Lubans, D. R., Morgan, P. J., & Tudor-Locke, C. (2009). A systematic review of studies using pedometers to promote physical activity among youth. Preventive medicine, 48(4), 307-315.

Olson, S., & Thornton, P. (2011). Peopling the North American City: Montreal, 1840-1900 (Vol. 222). McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP.