Sport and Health. HA 05.09.2024. PDF

# Sport and Gesundheit ## 1. Gesundheitsverständnis: Problemaufriss * Does sport make you healthy? Discuss the statements of the two cartoons in the context of your own sporting experiences. ## 2 Gesundheitsverständnis: Definition der Weltgesundheitsorganisation WHO * Health is a state of compl...

# Sport and Gesundheit ## 1. Gesundheitsverständnis: Problemaufriss * Does sport make you healthy? Discuss the statements of the two cartoons in the context of your own sporting experiences. ## 2 Gesundheitsverständnis: Definition der Weltgesundheitsorganisation WHO * Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. ## 2a. Which understanding of health is expressed in this definition of the WHO? * According to the definition of the WHO, being healthy means not only physical stability [**“körperliche Stabilität”**] but also mental and social [**“geistige und soziale”**] stability. ## 2b. Discuss to what extent competitive sport, school sport and/or disability sport contribute to health in the sense of the WHO definition. * Sport does not only keep you fit, it also releases happiness hormones [**“Glücks-Hormone”**], which are responsible for mental stability [**“geistige Stabilität”**]. During sport, people often make contact with other people, and this leads to social well-being [**“soziale Gesundheit”**] as well. ## 1. Developments and Functions of Sport in Society * Social development affects all areas like politics, economy, religion, education, work, leisure and sport. These areas change over time and shape our society's image. They influence human behaviour and thus also sport. ## 1a. Sport as a Reflection of Society * People are active in different areas of society. These include, for example, politics, economy, religion, education, work, leisure and sport. These areas change over time and shape the image of our society. They influence human behaviour and thus also sport. Conversely, sport also influences society. ### 1a1. The Origins of Sport * The origins of sport lie in rituals to honour the gods and heroes or the invocation of recurring natural events such as the four seasons. For example, indigenous peoples have performed dances to win the favour of the gods so that no further deaths occur in the group. Traditional sport as we know it today comes from England and emerged in the 19th century. It includes sports such as rowing and football, which, according to a narrow understanding of sport, are practised competitively and according to fixed rules in the form of a competition. Their respective results have become measurable. Sport has therefore developed from ritual to record and many sports are now represented as sporting disciplines, for example at the Olympic Games. The intensification of this development is reflected in the maxim 'faster - higher - further'. This expresses the striving for victory, records and performance enhancement. ### 1a2. Narrow Understanding of Sport * This is also a characteristic of our modern society. For example, more and more commitment is demanded in working life, at school and also in leisure time. The increased demands can exceed the natural limits of human performance. Consequently, more and more people use means to enhance their performance. The consumption of coffee, energy drinks and Ritalin is evidence of such behaviour, which is referred to as everyday doping. ### 1a3. Wide Understanding of Sport * In addition to the narrow traditional understanding of sport, a wide understanding of sport has developed. This also includes the narrow understanding of sport but goes beyond it. The wide understanding of sport distinguishes between sports, games and exercise. ### 1a4. 3 Categories * **Strongly structured:** * Sports usually involve performance principle, specific rules * **Moderately structured:** * Games usually involve free will, joy, competition, a set of rules * **Weakly structured:** * Exercise can include a variety of experiences, including sensorimotor experiences, physical experiences, self-expression and self-discovery, creativity and activity ## 1b. Every game can be converted from competition to cooperation. * The playing of games is like sports, it is rule-based but the rules can be changed. In 'Völkerball' [**“Volksball”**], the basic idea of a competition is pursued, but it can be changed by playful rule changes: 'Reverse Völkerball' [**“Völkerball verkehrt”**] is based on cooperation. In contrast to classical Völkerball, the players start in the outer areas of the playing field, only the Kings are inside. This makes it especially important for movements, play and sport forms to differ from each other when different groups are compared. ### 1b1. Emergence of the “Hippie” Culture * The emergence of the hippie culture in the late 1960s brought about alternative forms of movement. A look at the roots of the 'hippie' culture [**“Hippie-Kultur”**] shows that unconventional lifestyles were given great importance there. The New Games [**“New Games”**], which emerged from the 'hippie' culture, are an example. ## 1b2. Unconventional activities * In the context of sports lessons, unconventional rules changes are used for pedagogical purposes. This is especially important for the children, as they are more likely to cooperate. The fun of the activity is central to the game in the leisure time, though. The voluntary nature of the activity is a prerequisite. Games are particularly important for children because behavioural patterns are practised and important developmental processes take place. ## 1b3. Movement * Movement is the least structured form of physical activity. It has the greatest degree of freedom and is least regulated by rules. Through it, people gain self-, social, sensory, expressive, emotional and creative experiences. The understanding of movement goes far beyond sporting activities. Humans express feelings when acting in a play, for example, by consciously changing facial expressions and gestures. In building an acrobatic figure, clear agreements are necessary, which in turn promote social experiences. Yoga promotes conscious engagement with one's own body and has the potential for self-discovery. Swimming in the sea can be a special sensory experience because the salt water can be tasted and the buoyancy of the body can be perceived. ## 1b4. Movement, Game and Sport * Movement, game and sport are essential components of our daily lives. They can help us to deal with the respective social structures. ## 1c. The Gordian Knot * In the context of sports lessons, unconventional rules changes are used for pedagogical purposes. This is especially important for the children, as they are more likely to cooperate. The fun of the activity is central to the game in the leisure time, though. The voluntary nature of the activity is a prerequisite. Games are particularly important for children because behavioural patterns are practised and important developmental processes take place. ### 1c1. The Gordian Knot * Several people form a circle and grab each other's hands at random. The knot that arises in this way must be untied without letting go of hands. This task can only be solved together as a group. ### 1c2. Limbo Dancing * In contrast to this, people act competitively in limbo dancing, for example, at company parties and children's birthday parties. The goal here is not to touch a taut string when going under it. In this game, each person plays alone. Anyone who touches the string or the ground with another part of their body than their feet is eliminated. After each round, the string is lowered and the difficulty increases. The last person in the game wins, everyone else loses. It is clear that there is a direct link between society and sport. The movement, game and sport behaviour of a group can provide information about the internal norms and values. Conversely, the different forms of movement, game and sport, for example in sports lessons and in clubs, also convey the diverse societal values and norms. Because of these interactions, sport is considered to be a reflection of society. ## 1d. Development and Functions of Sport in Society * Our present society is subject to various developments, which have an influence on sport. These include, for example, urbanization, globalization, digitization and demographic changes. ### 1d1. Urbanization * Due to increasing urbanization, the demand for housing and infrastructure in cities is increasing. Sports such as parkour have become popular as a consequence. This involves mastering obstacles in urban areas in the most creative, elegant and fastest way possible. ### 1d2. Individualization * The increasing individualization of society has a great influence on the development of sport. Since the 1950s, people have been developing increasingly individual lifestyles. Therefore, individual sports are experiencing a boom compared to team sports., depending on the agreement with one's own individual lifestyle and one's own social milieu, appropriate forms of movement, games and sports are preferred. ### 1d3. Globalization * Globalization and the media have an impact on the market economy. With rising prosperity, people are increasingly willing to consume, such as sports equipment, sportswear and sporting holidays. Movement, game and sport can also be seen as consumer goods in this sense. With the appropriate technical sports equipment and clothing, such as skateboarding, movement, game and sport are increasingly taking place in an organised way. There is also staging of one's own lifestyle. Depending on demand, the market for sports offerings changes and vice versa. ### 1d4. Digitization * Through globalization and digitization, communication and networking between different nations and groups are increasing. In sport, this results in the spread of traditional sports and the creation of international rules. Multinational corporations develop uniform group fitness programs and market them worldwide. Courses are conducted worldwide with the same choreography and the same body images are strived for. ## 1d5. Effects of Sport * Due to such diverse and interconnected societal developments, people have many opportunities today to spend their leisure time through movement, games and sport. ## 3. Health-related Functions ## 3a. Physical Functions * Strengthening of the cardiovascular system, muscles, bones, joints, cartilage, immune system * Reducing body weight * Improving of fitness and coordination skills * Preventing accidents ## 3b. Mental Functions * Reducing stress * Promoting well-being, joy and fun * Improving cognitive performance (e.g., memory, attention, concentration, behavioral control and problem-solving skills) * Alleviating depression ## 3c. social Functions * Communication with other people * Experiencing community events * Creating social contacts and relationships ## 3.1. Health-related Functions of Moderate Physical Activity * Sport is generally attributed various physio-psycho-social functions, which together contribute to a person’s health. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines this: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." This corresponds to a holistic understanding health,which is reflected in the salutogenesis model, for instance. According to this model, a person is always in a state of balance between health and illness. This state is significantly determined by protective factors and risk factors. Typical risk factors are, for instance, smoking, an unhealthy diet, overweight or lack of exercise. Protective factors can involve a realistic self-perception, regular exercise, an active lifestyle or social support. * The effects of physical, mental and social impacts of sports activities, like endurance sports or moderate strength training, can be seen as protective or risk factors. The effects follow an inverted U shape as shown in Figure 12.2. If moderate, regular physical activity is practiced, its effects on health are positive. If the effort is too low, this leads to a lack of stimulation and consequently negative health outcomes. Outcomes can include cardiovascular disease or overweight. In cases of chronic excessive physical activity, overstimulation occurs. Injuries and health problems can result, especially bones and joints being particularly susceptible to damage. This is particularly common in competitive sports. * **The effects can also be reversed** * The physical effects of sport can be found in various systems of the body. Thus, cardiovascular and respiratory systems react to sporting activities with a long-term enlargement of the heart and lungs. The cross-section of skeletal muscles increases and the muscles become stronger as a consequence. Bones possess a higher bone density. The immune system also gets strengthened by moderate sporting activities, as the body produces more immune cells during physical activity. Moreover, through corresponding stress, improvements in fitness, and coordination skills can be achieved. Endurance, strength, speed and flexibility are positively influenced, for example, balance and reaction time are improved. * The consequences can, however, also lead to overuse. More severe injuries may follow and, as a result, serious damage to the body may occur. ## 3.2. Mental Effects of Physical Activity * Mental effects of physical activity can, for example, occur in stress reduction. People experience sport as relaxing and achieve well-being through physical activity. However, cognitive functions can also be improved through physical activity. Research results show that physical exercise leads to increased blood flow to the brain and structural and hormonal changes are measurable. Growth factors are formed, which promote the formation of new neurons. This can therefore improve cognitive performance. Thus, moderate sporting activity can have a positive impact on the performance in school or university for young people. These effects also apply to mental illnesses such as depression. These can be equally well controlled by endurance sports as by medication. ## 3.3. Social Effects of Physical Activity * The social factor of playing sport can be of great importance for health. Playing team sports leads to social contact. An active lifestyle has a positive impact on health. Communication with other people and building social contacts are substantial side-effects of playing sports. Older people can therefore counteract loneliness and actively participate in social life. ## 3.4. Health-related Institutions and Sport * Various institutions are responsible for the promotion of health through sport. The government promotes sport and sees this as a health-promoting task. Sport clubs and schools play an important role here. They offer sport in Germany for millions of people. Commercial fitness studios, health insurance companies, kindergartens, adult education centres or companies also offer sports classes. Ultimately, playing sport can also be done independently and without organisational support. The individual is primarily responsible for positively influencing his or her health or seeing this as a task for shaping his or her lifestyle. ## 3.5. Health-related Effects of Physical Activity * Lack of exercise can already start in childhood. * The consequences of lack of exercise are problematic for society as a whole. In addition to individual consequences for people, high costs are also incurred for the treatment of diseases. Diseases such as muscle tension in the back, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, stroke, heart attack or severe obesity can be consequences of lack of exercise. Lack of exercise can therefore be identified as a clear risk factor. Recent studies continue to suggest that around ten percent of annual deaths worldwide are now attributable to the consequences of lack of exercise. This figure even exceeds the death rate from smoking. * However, health costs also arise through sport, as sporting injuries have to be treated, for example. However, the treatment costs for these are significantly lower overall than the costs caused by lack of exercise. According to a study from 2013, an investment in sport saves up to five euros in health costs. * Education for health should start as early as possible. Children still have a natural urge to move around, but this declines significantly, at the latest, with the onset of puberty. School sport is particularly important here with regular sports lessons and other offers for health promotion. * Health promotion plays an important role here. 1. Check which of the health-related functions mentioned in Figure 12.1 are particularly relevant in your personal sporting activity. 2. Using Figure 12.2, compare the potential health-related impacts of football in the local league and the Bundesliga. ## 4. Understanding of Health: The Risk-factor Model * Explain the influence of exercise or sport within the risk-factor model. * In the salutogenesis model ['**Salutogenesemodell**'], there are so-called protective factors and risk factors. A person finds themselves in a state of normality and balance, and various protective or risk factors influence a person's state of health. Sport and exercise are protective factors, because they contribute to improving one's health. * Determine by ticking + or - whether the risk-factor model covers the following aspects in describing the health of a person. * Clarification about differentiated risk factors in relation to the person. (+) * Consideration of environmental stressors (noise, pollutants etc.). (+) * Dynamic, interwoven presentation of risk factors. (+) * Capturing of the main risk factors. (+) * Consideration of individual lifestyle habits. (+) * Consideration of individual risk constellations. (+) * Comprehensive, differentiated understanding of health. (+) * Consideration of coping mechanisms (coping strategies and preventive measures). (+) * Do you consider the risk-factor model suitable for describing the health status of a person? **Personally, I think the model is suitable for generally depicting what risk factors and protective factors exist and how they affect a person's health. Individually, it is probably not very useful, as personal "personality" aspects also play a role, and the risk factor model is generally flawed**.