Public health promotion policies and professional guidance in the Outdoor Gyms in Campo Grande/MS, Brazil

Abstract

The experiences with physical activity in leisure time with health promotion objectives are conditioned by different factors, among them, public policies, through the promotion of guidance and monitoring by Physical Education professionals in public spaces. This investigation aimed to analyze the performance of Physical Education teachers in monitoring and guiding the use of Outdoor Gyms equipment under the administration of the Council of Campo Grande / MS. The research is cross-sectional, quali-quantitative, descriptive-exploratory and field. The object of analysis were users of Outdoor Gyms, municipal managers and documents from sectors responsible for municipal sports and health policy. The structured interview and documentary analysis were used as research techniques. The results indicate that the majority of users do not have guidance and monitoring from Physical Education teachers; that the service locations are established based on the participation of visible and invisible actors, with attendance at times of less exposure to the sun. Most users do not understand the function of the gym equipment, which muscle group they exercise and are not autonomous for use, condition which may be related to the majority not having guidance and monitoring. It is concluded that the policy related to the Outdoor Gyms, regarding the orientation and monitoring of a Physical Education teacher, is inefficient.