| Aerobic and Anaerobic Comparison | | | | Increasing the efficiency of the circulatory system |
| There are countless forms of aerobic exercise. | | | | and reducing blood pressure. |
| However, the most common format is when it is | | | | Substantially increasing the number of red blood cells |
| performed at a steady pace and over a relatively | | | | in the body which in turn assists in transporting |
| long period of time. To illustrate the point, consider | | | | oxygen throughout the body. |
| the following examples: | | | | Improving overall mental health. This may include |
| Running a long distance at a moderate pace is | | | | reducing the level of stress and helping to lower the |
| classified as an aerobic exercise, whereas sprinting is | | | | possibility of depression. |
| not. | | | | Accordingly, the aforementioned point to the fact |
| Playing singles tennis, which involves almost | | | | that aerobic exercise can assist greatly in reducing |
| continuous activity, is typically regarded as an aerobic | | | | the risk of dying from heart disease. Further, |
| activity, whereas playing golf or doubles tennis, which | | | | high-impact aerobic activities, which include jogging or |
| involves brief bursts of high activity punctuated with | | | | jumping rope, are able to stimulate bone growth. |
| more frequent breaks, is not regarded as | | | | Also, they are known to reduce the risk of |
| predominantly aerobic. | | | | osteoporosis. This is a disease in which the bone is |
| Accordingly, some sports may be designated as | | | | liable to break at the slightest opportunity. |
| inherently "aerobic." On the other hand, some aerobic | | | | Apart from the health benefits, there are many |
| exercises, such as fartlek training or aerobic dance | | | | performance benefits. Consider the following: |
| classes, are designed specifically to improve aerobic | | | | Endurance will be increased as a result of the storage |
| capacity and fitness. | | | | of more energy molecules, such as fats and |
| Fartlek means "speed play" in Swedish. Most Fartlek | | | | carbohydrates, within the muscles. |
| programmes last for at least 45 minutes. They can | | | | Neovascularization, which is the formation of |
| include anything from aerobic walking to anaerobic | | | | functional microvascular networks with red blood cell |
| sprinting. Fartlek training is normally synonymous with | | | | perfusion, of the muscle sarcomeres, which give |
| running, but can include almost any kind of exercise. | | | | skeletal and cardiac muscles their striated appearance, |
| Becoming involved in a regular programme of aerobic | | | | to increase blood flow through the muscles. |
| exercises can produce some very desirable benefits, | | | | If the rate of aerobic metabolism was increased |
| such as: | | | | within muscles, this would allow a greater proportion |
| Strengthening the respiratory muscles that will help to | | | | of energy for intense exercise to be generated |
| improve the flow of air in and out of the lungs. | | | | aerobically. |
| Not only strengthening but also enlarging the heart | | | | If muscles are able to use fats during exercise more |
| muscles which will help to improve the efficiency of | | | | easily, this will help to preserve intramuscular |
| its pumping action and reduce the heart rate when at | | | | glycogen, which is a form of glucose, and functions |
| rest. | | | | as the secondary short term energy storage. |
| Toning up the muscles throughout the body. | | | | |