Physical Activity

Hernias are a common ailment among Americans; more than 4 million people develop the painful condition. And although both men and women develop hernias, female patients may be harder to diagnose. Doctors and patients may not realize the abdominal pain a woman is feeling is because of a hernia. Dr. Hien Nguyen, assistant professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said the pain can be mistaken for other conditions with similar symptoms, such as adhesions from prior surgery, endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts.

At Germantown Elementary School in Annapolis, students receive physical education once a week. Officially, that is. Unofficially, students are engaging in the same level of activity as their "go-outside-and-play" parents of previous generations. At recess, before classes and after school — and in some cases even during classroom instruction — youngsters are getting workouts by playing traditional games, learning new ones and creating their own spinoff versions. Germantown Elementary is among the first schools in the area to implement a San Diego-based physical education program called SPARK, which stresses to children the importance of physical fitness, then provides grade-level equipment and instruction to back it up. SPARK officials said the program began in 1989 as a result of a study supported by the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health and San Diego State University.

I disagree with those who support building a school in Mays Chapel North, where a wonderful walking path and athletic fields are currently located. As a long-time resident of Mays Chapel and a senior citizen, I have enjoyed the benefit of having a tranquil and safe area to walk. Not only is the park convenient to the many senior citizens living in Mays Chapel, but it is used by others in the surrounding residential communities. As a physical therapist with over five decades of experience, I have seen the detrimental effects of a lack of exercise.

Howard County is missing the mark on childhood obesity. If Howard County really wants to reduce childhood obesity, they need to work with our school system to protect the health of our students. They will need to protect time designated for recess and increase the time allotted for physical education in school across all grades. The current requirements are creating the obesity epidemic and failing our students. They need to allow opportunities for students with poor grades to participate in after-school physical activities. Howard County should look to New York state's requirements for physical education guidelines, which require 120 minutes per week.

Howard County is missing the mark on childhood obesity. If Howard County really wants to reduce childhood obesity, they need to work with our school system to protect the health of our students. They will need to protect time designated for recess and increase the time allotted for physical education in school across all grades. The current requirements are creating the obesity epidemic and failing our students. They need to allow opportunities for students with poor grades to participate in after-school physical activities. Howard County should look to New York state's requirements for physical education guidelines, which require 120 minutes per week.

For too many Marylanders, basketball is a game to be watched on television, running is the circumstance of their computers and hiking is what the General Assembly does to taxes around this time of year. For the firmly rooted couch potato, exercise is low on the to-do list. It's a chronic and worsening problem. A recent report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documents, county-by-county, just how bad it has become. Nationally, about one-quarter of adults do not spend free time being physically active or participating in such things as walking for exercise, golfing, playing tennis or running.

When was the last time you had some fun playing physical games with your kids, grandkids or even your neighbors' kids? Remember yard games like dodge ball, SPUD, red rover, croquet, horseshoes, badminton and just plain tag? How long has it been since you walked to the store for an ice cream cone, or rode your bike to get the morning paper?In the world of "everything old is new again," playing with kids will make a comeback if the surgeon general has anything to say about it.The just-released Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health has some encouraging things to say about the benefits of joyous movement, and some frightening facts about our resistance to taking advantage of it.The report is focused on disease prevention, and reports primarily on the benefits of endurance activity (walking, cycling, lawn mowing, leaf raking)

Long before memberships in gyms were common, Hy Levasseur preached physical activity and a healthful lifestyle on a morning television show, Trimnastics. Levasseur, nearly 69, and living in Edgewater, practices what he has championed since he appeared live on WBAL television three mornings a week for a full 90 minutes in the 1970s. He runs three times a week on a South River High School track and through his neighborhood, and won seven Maryland Senior Olympics gold medals two years ago. He has a 17-year-old son, Christian, who he says "keeps me in shape."

The Carroll County Health Department sponsored its fourth annual Project ACES program in October for children in the county's elementary schools. ACES (Active Children Excel in School) is a physical activity challenge aimed at improving health and fitness by increasing daily physical activity. Pupils kept track of their physical activity for a two-week period. The goal was to exercise for 30 minutes or more each day. Activities that met the requirements included walking, playing, riding bicycles, dancing, participating in sports, or doing yardwork or housework.

Thanks for your concern about the rising levels of obesity and the lack of infrastructure, programs, policy and funding to keep people, both children and adults, physically active ("Getting exercised over exercise," March 28). On January 3, I participated in the Governor's Moving Maryland Forum on Education — K-12 Breakout Session, led by Alvin Thornton. I am extremely disappointed that the governor's staff deleted the group's recommendation for a daily recess for all elementary school students from the original summary Mr. Thornton presented at the conclusion of the forum.

Michael Phelps can swim. Michael Phelps can golf. And finally here's a physical activity that Michael Phelps is, frankly, pretty bad at: crowd surfing. The Olympian tried to ride the waves of a crowd the other night at XS nightclub in Las Vegas. The crowd was into it, shouting, "Michael! Michael!" And Phelps was game. But after mere seconds, the ride was over and Phelps was on the floor. Don't worry, reports say he wasn't hurt. Perhaps just a bit embarrassed. Party foul? Or just a chance to find the Bob Bowman of crowd surfing, train and come back in four years.

I disagree with those who support building a school in Mays Chapel North, where a wonderful walking path and athletic fields are currently located. As a long-time resident of Mays Chapel and a senior citizen, I have enjoyed the benefit of having a tranquil and safe area to walk. Not only is the park convenient to the many senior citizens living in Mays Chapel, but it is used by others in the surrounding residential communities. As a physical therapist with over five decades of experience, I have seen the detrimental effects of a lack of exercise.

I read with great interest the article regarding the Roland Park Middle School parents' concerns in the article, "All work and no play for kids" (Sept. 24). It is so reassuring to hear about parents who are engaged in their children's schools and especially when they are taking an interest in their physical activity level. Often times, school leaders may think that academics and physical activity are mutually exclusive. The research on this issue is very clear and has shown time and time again that those students who have an opportunity to be active during the school day have better attendance, academic achievement, relationships and overall health.

Thanks for your concern about the rising levels of obesity and the lack of infrastructure, programs, policy and funding to keep people, both children and adults, physically active ("Getting exercised over exercise," March 28). On January 3, I participated in the Governor's Moving Maryland Forum on Education — K-12 Breakout Session, led by Alvin Thornton. I am extremely disappointed that the governor's staff deleted the group's recommendation for a daily recess for all elementary school students from the original summary Mr. Thornton presented at the conclusion of the forum.

For too many Marylanders, basketball is a game to be watched on television, running is the circumstance of their computers and hiking is what the General Assembly does to taxes around this time of year. For the firmly rooted couch potato, exercise is low on the to-do list. It's a chronic and worsening problem. A recent report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documents, county-by-county, just how bad it has become. Nationally, about one-quarter of adults do not spend free time being physically active or participating in such things as walking for exercise, golfing, playing tennis or running.

First lady Michelle Obama will be at Oriole Park at Camden Yards next week to promote her "Let's Move!" campaign to end childhood obesity. Obama is expected on Tuesday to an announce a joint initiative between her campaign and Major League Baseball, the White House announced Friday. The program's goal is to address the problem of childhood obesity within a generation, according to its website, so the children of today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight. After Tuesday's announcement, Orioles Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Will Ohman and and Corey Patterson — as well as visiting Tampa Bay Rays players — will host a clinic for 50 baseball players from local Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities leagues and Boys & Girls Clubs.

The Columbia Association has launched its fifth annual "Get Active Howard County," a 10-week effort to encourage Howard County residents to be more active by incorporating 30 minutes of physical activity into their day, at least five days a week. The program is free and open to anyone living or working in Howard County. To register: GetActiveHowardCounty.org. Participants can pick up a paper log at any Howard County library branch or any of the 10 village centers. The program runs through June 7. Information: Carol Wasser, 410-715-5523 or Carol.

First lady Michelle Obama will be at Oriole Park at Camden Yards next week to promote her "Let's Move!" campaign to end childhood obesity. Obama is expected on Tuesday to an announce a joint initiative between her campaign and Major League Baseball, the White House announced Friday. The program's goal is to address the problem of childhood obesity within a generation, according to its website, so the children of today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight. After Tuesday's announcement, Orioles Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Will Ohman and and Corey Patterson — as well as visiting Tampa Bay Rays players — will host a clinic for 50 baseball players from local Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities leagues and Boys & Girls Clubs.

Most parents would be dismayed to see their child come home with a "D" on their report card. They would want to know how they and the school can work together to improve the child's scholastic performance. With the announcement that the Baltimore City Health Department has given the very same grade to the city's efforts to reduce health inequities, will residents demand accountability, involvement and improvement? In a remarkable report, the agency reviewed trends regarding a number of health indicators of residents of the city and the state and found that Baltimore's inhabitants fared worse than the state on 13 of 14 indicators.

Dajah Jones' bead-accented braids sprayed through the air as she fell to the ground after colliding with Harlem Park School classmate Dorion Cook. The two sixth graders were among a dozen students playing a complex running game called Jedi Mind Reader during a recess period in the school's gymnasium. A concerned Dorion immediately ran over to Dajah and extended a hand to help her to her feet. The two chuckled as they ran into place to play again. Although Harlem Park does not offer physical education classes, students are receiving about 30 minutes of physical activity during the school day through Playworks, an Oakland, Calif.