Aerobic or cardiovascular exercise.
Aerobic or cardiovascular is a type of exercise in which muscles consume adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This is a product of the metabolism of fats and glucose by the use of oxygen. Adenosine triphosphate is  the basic source of energy for all cells. Aerobic exercise increases the need of adenosine triphosphate. That means more glucose and fat are consumed to be transformed to energy. Aerobic exercise intensifies respiration. Fast breathing boosts the body's supply in oxygen and increased heart pumping helps in transfer of more oxygenated blood from the lungs to the muscles. Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and contributes to establishment of normal cholesterol levels. In a long term, this kind of physical activity increases cardiovascular endurance.
Aerobic exercise should not be confused with aerobics. The latest is a form of aerobic exercise but not the only one. Aerobics is very popular in women and it is a combination of dance and stretching exercise.
Aerobic exercise is often described as a low impact, intermediate and advanced class, in terms of intensity. A low impact class is conducted at a slow pace and it is the easiest type of aerobic exercise. It is good for people who have just started a training course. Walking, for instance, is a low impact aerobics exercise. An intermediate class, such as dance and swimming, is designed for people who are active and need a higher level of cardiovascular exercise, in order to improve and maintain their fitness. The advanced class, also called high impact, is for fit people who want a hard workout. Long distance running, competitive swimming, jump rope, cycling, tennis and other activities performed at gyms are high impact aerobic exercises.
Intervals of intense aerobic activity separated by recovery breaks seem to improve VO2 Max. This is the point beyond which the body can no longer increase the oxygen consumption, regardless of the exercise intensity. If the intensity of the cardiovascular exercise increases any further, the body discontinues the aerobic metabolism of glucose or fat and starts to work anaerobically. The production of adenosine triphosphate stops and lactic acid is produced instead. When lactic acid builds-up to certain level, it results in painful, burning muscle sensation. This level is called "anaerobic threshold" and varies according to a person's fitness. The fitter the body the higher the anaerobic threshold is. |
