Exercise
Exercise is intentional physical activity to enhance or maintain fitness and overall health.[1][2]
It is performed for various reasons, including
In terms of health benefits, usually, 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity exercise per week is recommended for reducing the risk of health issues.[6][7][8] At the same time, even doing a small amount of exercise is healthier than doing none. Only doing an hour and a quarter (11 minutes/day) of exercise could reduce the risk of early death, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancer.[9][10]
Classification
Physical exercises are generally grouped into three types, depending on the overall effect they have on the human body:[11]
- Eccentric Training, interval training, sprinting, and high-intensity interval training which increase short-term muscle strength.[11][13]
- Flexibility exercises stretch and lengthen muscles.[11] Activities such as stretching help to improve joint flexibility and keep muscles limber.[11] The goal is to improve the range of motion which can reduce the chance of injury.[11][14]
Physical exercise can also include training that focuses on
Types of exercise can also be classified as dynamic or static. 'Dynamic' exercises such as steady running, tend to produce a lowering of the
Health effects
Physical exercise is important for maintaining
Fitness
Most people can increase fitness by increasing physical activity levels.[22] Increases in muscle size from resistance training are primarily determined by diet and testosterone.[23] This genetic variation in improvement from training is one of the key physiological differences between elite athletes and the larger population.[24][25] There is evidence that exercising in middle age may lead to better physical ability later in life.[26]
Early motor skills and development is also related to physical activity and performance later in life. Children who are more proficient with motor skills early on are more inclined to be physically active, and thus tend to perform well in sports and have better fitness levels. Early motor proficiency has a positive correlation to childhood physical activity and fitness levels, while less proficiency in motor skills results in a more sedentary lifestyle.[27]
The type and intensity of physical activity performed may have an effect on a person's fitness level. There is some weak evidence that high-intensity interval training may improve a person's VO2 max slightly more than lower intensity endurance training.[28] However, unscientific fitness methods could lead to sports injuries.[29]
Cardiovascular system
The beneficial effect of exercise on the cardiovascular system is well documented. There is a direct correlation between physical inactivity and cardiovascular disease, and physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease. Low levels of physical exercise increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases mortality.[30][31]
Children who participate in physical exercise experience greater loss of body fat and increased cardiovascular fitness.[32] Studies have shown that academic stress in youth increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in later years; however, these risks can be greatly decreased with regular physical exercise.[33]
There is a dose-response relationship between the amount of exercise performed from approximately 700–2000
Studies have shown that since heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, regular exercise in aging women leads to healthier cardiovascular profiles.
Most beneficial effects of physical activity on cardiovascular disease mortality can be attained through moderate-intensity activity (40–60% of maximal oxygen uptake, depending on age). Persons who modify their behavior after myocardial infarction to include regular exercise have improved rates of survival. Persons who remain sedentary have the highest risk for all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality.[34] According to the American Heart Association, exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke.[31]
Some have suggested that increases in physical exercise might decrease healthcare costs, increase the rate of job attendance, as well as increase the amount of effort women put into their jobs.[35]
Immune system
Although there have been hundreds of studies on physical exercise and the immune system, there is little direct evidence on its connection to illness.[36] Epidemiological evidence suggests that moderate exercise has a beneficial effect on the human immune system; an effect which is modeled in a J curve. Moderate exercise has been associated with a 29% decreased incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), but studies of marathon runners found that their prolonged high-intensity exercise was associated with an increased risk of infection occurrence.[36] However, another study did not find the effect. Immune cell functions are impaired following acute sessions of prolonged, high-intensity exercise, and some studies have found that athletes are at a higher risk for infections. Studies have shown that strenuous stress for long durations, such as training for a marathon, can suppress the immune system by decreasing the concentration of lymphocytes.[37] The immune systems of athletes and nonathletes are generally similar. Athletes may have a slightly elevated natural killer cell count and cytolytic action, but these are unlikely to be clinically significant.[36]
Vitamin C supplementation has been associated with a lower incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in marathon runners.[36]
Biomarkers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein, which are associated with chronic diseases, are reduced in active individuals relative to sedentary individuals, and the positive effects of exercise may be due to its anti-inflammatory effects. In individuals with heart disease, exercise interventions lower blood levels of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein, an important cardiovascular risk marker.[38] The depression in the immune system following acute bouts of exercise may be one of the mechanisms for this anti-inflammatory effect.[36]
Cancer
A systematic review evaluated 45 studies that examined the relationship between physical activity and cancer survival rates. According to the review, "[there] was consistent evidence from 27 observational studies that physical activity is associated with reduced all-cause, breast cancer–specific, and colon cancer–specific mortality. There is currently insufficient evidence regarding the association between physical activity and mortality for survivors of other cancers."[39] Evidence suggests that exercise may positively affect the quality of life in cancer survivors, including factors such as anxiety, self-esteem and emotional well-being.[40] For people with cancer undergoing active treatment, exercise may also have positive effects on health-related quality of life, such as fatigue and physical functioning.[41] This is likely to be more pronounced with higher intensity exercise.[41]
Exercise may contribute to a reduction of
There is low-quality evidence for an effect of aerobic physical exercises on anxiety and serious adverse events in adults with hematological malignancies.[46] Aerobic physical exercise may result in little to no difference in the mortality, quality of life, or physical functioning.[46] These exercises may result in a slight reduction in depression and reduction in fatigue.[46]
Neurobiological
The
In healthy adults, aerobic exercise has been shown to induce transient effects on cognition after a single exercise session and persistent effects on cognition following consistent exercise over the course of several months.
Aerobic exercise has both short and long term effects on mood and emotional states by promoting
Some
Reviews of clinical evidence also support the use of exercise as an adjunct therapy for certainDepression
A number of medical reviews have indicated that exercise has a marked and persistent
clinical trials supports the efficacy of physical exercise as a treatment for depression over a 2–4 month period.[51] These benefits have also been noted in old age, with a review conducted in 2019 finding that exercise is an effective treatment for clinically diagnosed depression in older adults.[77]A meta-analysis from July 2016 concluded that physical exercise improves overall quality of life in individuals with depression relative to controls.[55][78]
Continuous aerobic exercise can induce a transient state of
Sleep
Preliminary evidence from a 2012 review indicated that physical training for up to four months may increase sleep quality in adults over 40 years of age.[84] A 2010 review suggested that exercise generally improved sleep for most people, and may help with insomnia, but there is insufficient evidence to draw detailed conclusions about the relationship between exercise and sleep.[85] A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that exercise can improve sleep quality in people with insomnia.[86]
Libido
One 2013 study found that exercising improved sexual arousal problems related to antidepressant use.[87]
Respiratory system
People who participate in physical exercise experience increased cardiovascular fitness.[medical citation needed] There is some level of concern about additional exposure to air pollution when exercising outdoors, especially near traffic.[88]
Mechanism of effects
Skeletal muscle
Resistance training and subsequent consumption of a protein-rich meal promotes
Aerobic exercise induces
Other peripheral organs
Developing research has demonstrated that many of the benefits of exercise are mediated through the role of skeletal muscle as an endocrine organ. That is, contracting muscles release multiple substances known as
Central nervous system
The effects of physical exercise on the
Public health measures
Community-wide and school campaigns are often used in an attempt to increase a population's level of physical activity. Studies to determine the effectiveness of these types of programs need to be interpreted cautiously as the results vary.[22] There is some evidence that certain types of exercise programmes for older adults, such as those involving gait, balance, co-ordination and functional tasks, can improve balance.[118] Following progressive resistance training, older adults also respond with improved physical function.[119] Brief interventions promoting physical activity may be cost-effective, however this evidence is weak and there are variations between studies.[120]
Environmental approaches appear promising: signs that encourage the use of stairs, as well as community campaigns, may increase exercise levels.
Parents can promote physical activity by modelling healthy levels of physical activity or by encouraging physical activity.[123] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, children and adolescents should do 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day.[124] Implementing physical exercise in the school system and ensuring an environment in which children can reduce barriers to maintain a healthy lifestyle is essential.
The
Exercise trends
Worldwide there has been a large shift toward less physically demanding work.
Research published in 2015 suggests that incorporating mindfulness into physical exercise interventions increases exercise adherence and self-efficacy, and also has positive effects both psychologically and physiologically.[127]
-
Running helps in achieving physical fitness.[128]
-
better source needed]
-
Swimming as an exercise tones muscles and builds strength.[130]
-
Athletics (ex. pole vault) as a form of exercise
-
Football as an exercise
Social and cultural variation
Exercising looks different in every country, as do the motivations behind exercising.[4] In some countries, people exercise primarily indoors (such as at home or health clubs), while in others, people primarily exercise outdoors. People may exercise for personal enjoyment, health and well-being, social interactions, competition or training, etc. These differences could potentially be attributed to a variety of reasons including geographic location and social tendencies.
In Colombia, for example, citizens value and celebrate the outdoor environments of their country. In many instances, they use outdoor activities as social gatherings to enjoy nature and their communities. In Bogotá, Colombia, a 70-mile stretch of road known as the Ciclovía is shut down each Sunday for bicyclists, runners, rollerbladers, skateboarders and other exercisers to work out and enjoy their surroundings.[131]
Similarly to Colombia, citizens of Cambodia tend to exercise socially outside. In this country, public gyms have become quite popular. People will congregate at these outdoor gyms not only to use the public facilities, but also to organize aerobics and dance sessions, which are open to the public.[132]
Sweden has also begun developing outdoor gyms, called utegym. These gyms are free to the public and are often placed in beautiful, picturesque environments. People will swim in rivers, use boats, and run through forests to stay healthy and enjoy the natural world around them. This works particularly well in Sweden due to its geographical location.[133]
Exercise in some areas of China, particularly among those who are retired, seems to be socially grounded. In the mornings, square dances are held in public parks; these gatherings may include Latin dancing, ballroom dancing, tango, or even the jitterbug. Dancing in public allows people to interact with those with whom they would not normally interact, allowing for both health and social benefits.[134]
These sociocultural variations in physical exercise show how people in different geographic locations and social climates have varying motivations and methods of exercising. Physical exercise can improve health and well-being, as well as enhance community ties and appreciation of natural beauty.[4]
Nutrition and recovery
Proper nutrition is as important to health as exercise. When exercising, it becomes even more important to have a good diet to ensure that the body has the correct ratio of
Active recovery is recommended after participating in physical exercise because it removes lactate from the blood more quickly than inactive recovery. Removing lactate from circulation allows for an easy decline in body temperature, which can also benefit the immune system, as an individual may be vulnerable to minor illnesses if the body temperature drops too abruptly after physical exercise.[136]
Exercise has an effect on appetite, but whether it increases or decreases appetite varies from individual to individual, and is affected by the intensity and duration of the exercise.[137]
Excessive exercise
History
This article is missing information about times and places when exercise was viewed negatively.(August 2021) |
The benefits of exercise have been known since antiquity. Dating back to 65 BCE, it was Marcus Cicero, Roman politician and lawyer, who stated: "It is exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigor."[143] Exercise was also seen to be valued later in history during the Early Middle Ages as a means of survival by the Germanic peoples of Northern Europe.[144]
More recently, exercise was regarded as a beneficial force in the 19th century. In 1858, Archibald MacLaren opened a gymnasium at the University of Oxford and instituted a training regimen for Major Frederick Hammersley and 12 non-commissioned officers.[145] This regimen was assimilated into the training of the British Army, which formed the Army Gymnastic Staff in 1860 and made sport an important part of military life.[146][147][148] Several mass exercise movements were started in the early twentieth century as well. The first and most significant of these in the UK was the Women's League of Health and Beauty, founded in 1930 by Mary Bagot Stack, that had 166,000 members in 1937.[149]
The link between physical health and exercise (or lack of it) was further established in 1949 and reported in 1953 by a team led by Jerry Morris.[150][151] Morris noted that men of similar social class and occupation (bus conductors versus bus drivers) had markedly different rates of heart attacks, depending on the level of exercise they got: bus drivers had a sedentary occupation and a higher incidence of heart disease, while bus conductors were forced to move continually and had a lower incidence of heart disease.[151]
Other animals
Animals like chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas and bonobos, which are closely related to humans, without ill effect engage in considerably less physical activity than is required for human health, raising the question of how this is biochemically possible.[152]
Studies of animals indicate that physical activity may be more adaptable than changes in food intake to regulate energy balance.[153]
Mice having access to activity wheels engaged in voluntary exercise and increased their propensity to run as adults.[154] Artificial selection of mice exhibited significant heritability in voluntary exercise levels,[155] with "high-runner" breeds having enhanced aerobic capacity,[156] hippocampal neurogenesis,[157] and skeletal muscle morphology.[158]
The effects of exercise training appear to be heterogeneous across non-mammalian species. As examples, exercise training of salmon showed minor improvements of endurance,[159] and a forced swimming regimen of yellowtail amberjack and rainbow trout accelerated their growth rates and altered muscle morphology favorable for sustained swimming.[160][161] Crocodiles, alligators, and ducks showed elevated aerobic capacity following exercise training.[162][163][164] No effect of endurance training was found in most studies of lizards,[162][165] although one study did report a training effect.[166] In lizards, sprint training had no effect on maximal exercise capacity,[166] and muscular damage from over-training occurred following weeks of forced treadmill exercise.[165]
See also
- Active living
- Behavioural change theories
- Bodybuilding
- Exercise hypertension
- Exercise intensity
- Exercise intolerance
- Exercise-induced anaphylaxis
- Exercise-induced asthma
- Exercise-induced nausea
- Kinesiology
- Metabolic equivalent
- Neurobiological effects of physical exercise
- Non-exercise associated thermogenesis
- Supercompensation
- Unilateral training
- Warming up
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External links
- Adult Compendium of Physical Activities – a website containing lists of
- MedLinePlus Topic on Exercise and Physical Fitness
- Physical activity and the environment – guidance on the promotion and creation of physical environments that support increased levels of physical activity.
- Science Daily's reference on physical exercise