International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences 11(4): 762-770, 2023 http://www.hrpub.org
DOI: 10.13189/saj.2023.110409
Evaluating the Results of the Implementation of an
Exercise Program on the Physical Condition for
Learners of a Multicultural Second Chance School
Sotirios Vousiopoulos
*
, Olga Kouli, Helen Douda, Vasiliki Derri
School/Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
Received March 14, 2023; Revised May 9, 2023; Accepted June 11, 2023
Cite This Paper in the Following Citation Styles
(a): [1] Sotirios Vousiopoulos, Olga Kouli, Helen Douda, Vasiliki Derri , "Evaluating the Results of the Implementation
of an Exercise Program on the Physical Condition for Learners of a Multicultural Second Chance School," International
Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 762 - 770, 2023. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2023.110409.
(b): Sotirios Vousiopoulos, Olga Kouli, Helen Douda, Vasiliki Derri (2023). Evaluating the Results of the Implementation
of an Exercise Program on the Physical Condition for Learners of a Multicultural Second Chance School. International
Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 11(4), 762 - 770. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2023.110409.
Copyright©2023 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License
Abstract The purpose of the study was to assess the
impact of an organized exercise program based on selected
fitness indicators on adult learners in a multicultural
environment of a Second Chance School (SCS). 62 learners
from the SCS of Komotini (19-57 years) participated in the
study, where they were equally divided into two groups
(experimental, control). The intervention program was
implemented for 5 months (2 times/week) with an intensity
of 65%-85% of the HRmax. Each exercise session lasted
60 minutes and included aerobic exercise and muscular
strengthening. Measurements were performed at the
beginning and end of the intervention, and "ALPHA-FIT
Test Battery for Adults Aged 18-69" tests were used, as
well as the "Sit-Ups in 30 sec" and "Sit and Reach" tests.
For statistical processing of the data, descriptive statistics,
analyses of variance ANOVA and T-Tests were used using
the SPSS program. The analysis of the data showed that a
statistically significant major influence of the measurement
factor (p<.001) in all tests between the two groups
(experimental, control) was observed in fitness indicators.
Gender differences were found, with men performing
better in dynamic tests than women, and women
performing better in flexibility than men. In conclusion, the
intervention program has significantly improved the
Physical Condition of learners in the multicultural SCS of
Komotini. Finally, further research is proposed with
interventions of exercise programs in more than one SCS
to examine the degree of participation and any positive
changes that will occur in the fitness in a larger sample.
Keywords Physical Fitness, Adult Learners, Second
Chance Schools, Exercise Program, Physical Condition
1. Introduction
The term "fitness" refers to the ability to move the body
and is related to the level of abilities and skills associated
with the characteristics that humans have and their ability
to perform physical activity effectively [1,2].
In recent decades, there has been a rapid increase in the
rate of various chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes
mellitus, heart disease, hypertension etc., which tend to
reach epidemic proportions. Chronic diseases are major
causes of morbidity and premature mortality worldwide,
both in developed and developing countries [3,4]. Modern
lifestyle, gradual abandonment of the Mediterranean diet
model, but, mainly, the lack of physical activity and
exercise, are some of the factors most likely linked to the
increased occurrence of chronic diseases [3- 6]. It is now
commonly accepted that exercise is inextricably linked to
the physical and mental health of a person and it is the most
appropriate means of preventing and restoring chronic
diseases [7].