Long Stick Exercise in Sedentary Individuals

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of long stick exercise training on the strength and flexibility of sedentary individuals. An observational prospective study was conducted at the Prince of Songkla University. Eighty-five subjects who did not engage in any regular physical activity for at least three months before the study. A long stick exercise program was taught by a master for 45 minutes, at least three times weekly, for three months. Handgrip strength, backleg strength, and flexibility were measured at the beginning of the program as a baseline, and at one, two, and three months of training. The subjects had increased back-leg strength and flexibility. Median back-leg strength increased from the baseline by 0.07 kg/weight, 0.19 kg/weight, and 0.21 kg/weight, at one, two, and three months, respectively (p< 0.05). Median flexibility (sit-and-reach test) improved from the baseline by 4.34 cm, 4.71 cm, and 5.56 cm, at one, two, and three months, respectively (p = 0.001). There were no statistically significant changes in handgrip strength. SOUTHEAST ASIAN J TROP MED PUBLIC HEALTH 596 Vol 37 No. 3 May 2006 teers. All subjects lived in the community and led a normal lifestyle. In addition, subjects had not engaged in any strength-training program or regular aerobic exercise (defined as that exceeding two times weekly) for at least three months. Exclusion criteria included angina pectoris, history of myocardial infarction, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension, neuromuscular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, and other major diseases (Fletcher et al, 1995; Gill et al, 2000; Singh, 2000). This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University. The purpose and procedures of the study were fully explained to all subjects; informed consent was obtained. Long stick exercise (LSE) training Subjects voluntarily participated in a threemonth long stick exercise training program. They practiced LSE at least three times a week, in the evening, within a university park. Each session included 10 minutes of warm-up exercises (ie, gentle calisthenics), 30 minutes of LSE practice, and 5 minutes of cool-down exercise. Each set of LSE included 12 postures with some repeated movements (Fig 1). During the exercise sessions, subjects were led by an instructor, and they imitated the motions and postures at the same speed.