Problems of physical culture and their solutions in higher education establishments of Ukraine

Abstract

A retrospective review of the physical culture is made. A folk physical culture, as well as a physical culture of society, is the product of the nation’s creativity. On every historical stage it changes depending on the features of community development. At the same time, a physical culture inherits essential national values and features due to preservation of folk traditions, along tenth adapting and also enriched the adapted different borrowings.

Traditional views on Ukrainian children and youth as a healthiest social stratum have proved a myth. The continuing aggravation of children’s health in pre-school, school and student times is caused by the increasing numbers of social adaptation failures, due to low biological capacities of the body and unfavorable social and ecological environment in Ukraine. Physical training, therefore, should focus on fostering the mindfulness in children and youth regarding health and physical condition, on developing physical and mental qualities in them, on encouraging effective use of physical culture means when organizing physical training courses.

Specific features of the folk physical culture result from the cause-and-effect links of many factors: mental conditions of a community; their essential anthropometric charac­teristics; geographical and climate conditions; mode of production relations; economic and political development of a community; level of material and moral cultures in a community etc. Ideas on human health date back from ancient times, as our ancestors were capable to distinguish between health and illness, seeking to preserve the former and prevent the latter. According to scientists, health-improving means were used as early as in III-IV millenniums BC in India, where they were part of religious, philosophic and hygienic ideas.

Methodological tools of the Ukrainian theory and practice of physical culture and mass sport offer a great deal of means for individualization and differentiation of physical exercises in a broad range: from ones with maximal physical loading to strictly dozed ones for health-improving and medical treatment purposes.

Although the criteria of health are measured by a set of indicators, the most essential parameter of human health is the natural condition of the body, capable to balance all the bodily dysfunctions. The main means to strengthen one’s health and improve one’s adaptation are morning physical exercises and other forms of physical training, and staying outdoor: in the forest, on the seashore, in the highland areas etc.