 |
| Physical exercise is important for maintaining
physical fitness and can contribute positively to
maintaining healthy weight, building and maintaining
healthy bone density, muscle strength, and joint
mobility, promoting physiological well-being, reducing
surgical risks, and strengthening the immune system. |
 |
|
There is conflicting evidence as to
whether vigorous exercise is more or less
beneficial than moderate exercise. Some studies have
shown that vigorous exercise executed by healthy
individuals can effectively increase opioid peptides aka
endorphins, a naturally occurring opiate that in
conjunction with other neurotransmitters is responsible
for exercise induced euphoria and has been shown to be
addictive), positively influence hormone production
increase testosterone and growth hormone,benefits that
are not as fully realized with moderate exercise.
|
| more information...
|
|
 |
|
Physical activity is thought to have
other beneficial effects related to cognition as it
increases levels of nerve growth factors, which support
the survival and growth of a number of neuronal cells.
Both aerobic and anaerobic exercise
also work to increase the mechanical efficiency of the
heart by increasing cardiac volume aerobic exercise, or
myocardial thickness strength training, see Organ
hypertrophy.
|
 |
|
 |
| Aerobic activity is also used by individuals with
anorexia as a means of suppressing appetite, since
aerobic exercise increases glucose and fatty acids in
the blood by stimulating tissues to release their energy
stores. While there is some support for exercising while
hungry as a means of tapping into fat stores, most
evidence is equivocal. In addition, performance can be
impaired by lack of nutrients, which can impair training
effects. |
 |
| Aerobics notably does not increase the basal
metabolic rate as much as some forms of weight-training,
and may therefore be less effective at reducing obesity.
However, this form of exercise also allows for longer,
more frequent activity and consumes more energy when the
individual is active. In addition, the metabolic
activity of an individual is heightened for several
hours following a bout of aerobic activity. |
| more information...
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Forgot your password? |
Register |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
| Exercise has been shown to improve
cognitive functioning via improvement of
hippocampus-dependent spatial learning, and
enhancement of synaptic plasticity and
neurogenesis.
In addition, physical activity has
been shown to be neuroprotective in many
neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases.
For instance, it reduces the risk of developing
dementia. Furthermore, anecdotal evidence
suggests that frequent exercise may reverse
alcohol-induced brain damage.
|
|
Not everyone benefits equally
from exercise. There is tremendous variation in
individual response to training: where most
people will see a moderate increase in endurance
from aerobic exercise, some individuals will as
much as double their oxygen uptake, while others
will never get any benefit at all from the
exercise. Similarly, only a minority of people
will show significant muscle growth after
prolonged weight training, while a larger
fraction experience improvements in strength.
This genetic variation in improvement from
training is one of the key physiological
differences between elite athletes and the
larger population.
Studies have shown that exercising in
middle age leads to better physical ability
later in life. |
enlarge |
enlarge |
|
|
 |
Some persons suffer
repetitive stress injuries with some forms
of aerobics and then must choose less
injurious low-impact forms or lengthen the
gap between bouts of aerobic exercise to
allow for greater recovery. |
|
When overall fitness is
an occupational requirement, as for
athletes, combat services, and police and
fire personnel, aerobic exercise alone may
not provide a well balanced exercise
program. In particular, muscular strength,
especially upper-body muscular strength, may
be neglected. Also, the metabolic pathways
involved in anaerobic metabolism glycolysis
and lactic acid fermentation that generate
energy during high intensity, low duration
tasks such as sprinting, are not exercised
at peak rates. Aerobic exercise is, however,
an extremely valuable component of a
balanced exercise program and is good for
cardiovascular health. |
| more information...
|
|
|
|
Frequent and regular aerobic exercise has
been shown to help prevent or treat serious
and life-threatening chronic conditions such
as high blood pressure, obesity, heart
disease, Type 2 diabetes, insomnia, and
depression. Strength training appears to
have continuous energy-burning effects that
persist for about 24 hours after the
training, though they do not offer the same
cardiovascular benefits as aerobic exercises
do. Exercise can also increase energy and
raise one's threshold for pain.
|
|
|
|
|
|