Nathan Buhagiar
Bachelor of Exercise Science 2002-2004
Bachelor of Exercise Science (Hons) 2005
Strathfield Campus
When they headed out to Vietnam's front line to defend the free world they were the fittest Australians who ever lived. Now, many Vietnam Veterans have poorer health than other men their age, but it's not too late to reverse the trend.
Nathan Buhagiar, 22, an ACU National Bachelor of Exercise Science (Honours) graduate has just completed research into a 40 week fitness training program with 20 Vietnam Veterans from Sydney's northern beaches. The project was supported by Associate Professor Michael Climstein who runs the cardiovascular, stroke and osteoporosis rehabilitation centre through the Harbord Diggers Memorial Club.
Nathan's findings point to a host of physiological improvements, and a richly enhanced social life for all participants.
The men, aged 55 to 73, answered a Vietnam Veterans' Counselling Service and Diabetes Australia mail out in their area inviting to them to take part in Nathan's one-hour training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in the Harbord Diggers' Club gym.
"Some were already fit, walking every day and surfing, but others had been sedentary since the war," Nathan said. "On average they were exercising about twice a week."
Base line measurements were taken, then again every 10 weeks.
"We had significant improvements in blood pressure, both resting and post exercise, in heart rates, hip and waist circumference and body fat reductions, increases in forearm strength and muscular endurance in the legs and stomach muscles, and their rate of perceived exertion, how fit they felt."
The physical improvements were gratifying, but there was even more good news.
"Just to see some of the guys who started out really quiet, who had never known the other vets living down the road from them ... after exercising they would meet and have coffee, and see each other quite often and hold regular lunches at the different RSL clubs. It's been a massive improvement in their social lives."
Many of the men have kept up their regular Tuesday and Thursday morning exercise routine despite the conclusion of most of the research. "Every now and then they bring some of their friends and they bump into people they knew in Vietnam. Their social lives have definitely been enhanced through the program."
Federal Government research in 1996 and 1997 revealed Vietnam veterans had a lower life expectancy and more physical and mental health problems than Australian men their age who had not gone to Vietnam.
"Most of the problems they face stem from post traumatic stress syndrome, and drinking their problems away. A lot of people don't realise that they were actually given cigarettes as part of their rations. This project really opened my eyes."
The project's success underlines Nathan's belief in the healing and life enhancing powers of exercise as a cost-effective medicine.
"Our results have shown that not only has their physical health improved, their social lives have improved. I am over the moon."
Nathan has gone on to work in exercise rehabilitation in Castle Hill where he is also developing his interest in working in rehabilitation and conditioning with professional athletes.
Nathan's supervisor was Associate Professor Geraldine Naughton, director of ACU National's Centre of Physical Activity Across the Lifespan (CoPAAL). "Nathan quickly became immersed in the project," she said. "He focussed on the goal of holistic health outcomes and his respect for this high needs population of Vietnam Veterans increased monumentally through the project.
"Nathan watched these Veterans march on ANZAC Day. He stayed one step ahead of every task throughout the year, supported other Honours students along the way and was a popular sessional lecturer in the area of resistance training. Nathan has an extremely exciting future and I feel privileged to have worked with him on this highly successful project."
