Sunday, January 14, 2007

Aerobic Exercise Is Centered On Oxygen Consumption Equivalency (2)

There are a number of different types of aerobic exercises and the typical aerobic exercises are ones that are performed at levels of intensity that may be termed high and for quite some time. In the case of a person running a long distance at a reasonable pace, it is treated as being similar to an aerobic exercise, while sprinting is not considered to be aerobic exercising. In fact, any physical activity that is continuous motion will be termed as being aerobic exercise, though activities that have frequent breaks are not thought of being as aerobic exercises.

Aerobic exercise is the method and term that was developed by Kenneth H. Cooper, who was an exercise physiologist working in the US Air Force. Being a person greatly enthused by exercising, he found it puzzling as to why some people performed better while others performed poorly. By measuring systematic performance of humans that used a bicycle ergometer, he began to measure performances that sustained it by using oxygen. In 1969, he took out the book called Aerobics that included exercise programs that scientifically were used for running, walking, swimming and bicycling. A major criticism of aerobics is that it is not suited for professional requirements such as those of athletes, combatants, and police and fire personnel. This may be because aerobic exercises do not provide muscular strength, especially in the upper body.

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