HEALTH PROMOTION THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: EXPERIENCES IN AN UNIVERSITY EXTENSION PROJECT

Abstract

Understanding health promotion as a process of training the population and the community for a better quality of life, the present study has as its primary objective to emphasize the importance of physical activity developed by participants of the university extension project Caminhos do Esporte, as a tool health promotion and, consequently, improvement in quality of life. This is an experience report of the experiences of the project. The Caminhos do Esporte extension project aims to encourage the practice of physical activity by promoting sports competitions in various modalities between courses at PUC Minas in Arcos and schools and neighborhoods in the city, involving students, teachers, employees and graduates of the University. In addition to the physical benefits, the importance of sport as an educational practice and integration of different actors in the academic community and external community is also highlighted. It is possible to conclude that promoting health through an extension project is intrinsically linked to an improvement in the quality of life of the participants.