Effects of Traditional Thai Hermit's Exercise or Ruesi Dudton on Flexibility and Range of Motion in Female University Students

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effects of traditional Thai hermit's exercise (or Ruesi Dudton) on flexibility and range of motion (ROM) in female university students.  Method: In this quasi-experimental study, a purposive sample of 13 second-year female students enrolled in the Health Science Program of Udon Thani Rajabhat University in the academic year of 2016 was recruited. They were trained in the 18-posture Ruesi Dudton program with a 60-minute session, three days a week, for eight weeks. The flexibility and ROM were measured before and after the program. The flexibility was measured using a sit-and-reach test, whereas the ROM for the flexion and extension of shoulders and hips on both sides was measured by the Goniometer. Data were analyzed and presented as means and standard deviations. A paired t-test was also used to compare the means of individual measures before and after the program with a significance level set at 0.05. Results: At the end of the 8-week program, there was a significant improvement in the flexibility of the body trunk (+8.70 cm; P-value = 0.001). The ROM for both flexion and extension was significantly improved in both shoulders (flexion: left shoulder +11.91° and right shoulder +23.07°; extension: left shoulder +17.30° and right shoulder +26.15°; P-value < 0.001 for all values) and both hips (flexion: left hip +6.92°, right hip +13.07°; extension: left hip +13.46°, right hip +25.00°, P-value < 0.001 for all values). Conclusion: Traditional Thai hermit’s exercise could improve the muscle flexibility and ROM in female university students. Such exercise should therefore be encouraged in this student group. Keywords: traditional Thai hermit's exercise, Ruesi Dudton, muscle flexibility, range of motion, female university student