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What are the Benefits of Aerobic Exercise?
-Increased threshold for lactic acid accumulation
-Lower resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure in people with high blood pressure
-Increa
sed HDL Cholesterol (the good cholesterol)
-Decreased blood triglycerides
-Reduced body fat and improved weight control
-Improved glucose tolerance and reduced insulin resistance
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To strengthen your heart, you should do aerobic exercise intensely enough to reach your target heart rate. This is 60-80 percent of your maximum heart rate ? which is 220 minus your age. (Example: if
you're 50 years old, your maximum heart rate is 170; your target heart rate is 102-136.)
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There are several types of aerobic exercise that are gentle on the back and, when done on a regular basis, highly effective in providing conditioning.
-Walking for exercise. In general, walking for
exercise is very gentle on the back, and walking two to three miles three times per week is very helpful for patients.
-Stationary bicycling for exercise. If walking is painful, stationary bicycli
ng is also effective and may be less stressful on the back.
-Water therapy for exercise. Doing exercise in the water provides for effective conditioning while minimizing stress on the back
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Aerobic Exercise Guidelines:
Mode:
Type of exercise - what is aerobic exercise?
Frequency:
3-5 days per week
Duration:
20 to 60 minutes of continuous aerobic activity
Intens
ity:
50 - 85% of maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 max), or
50-85% of Heart Rate Reserve, or
60-90% of Maximal Heart Rate
Low Intensity: 35-60% of Heart Rate Max or 50-60% of Heart Rate Re
serve
Moderate Intensity: 60-80% of Heart Rate Max or 60-70% of Heart Rate Reserve
High Intensity: 80-90% of Heart Rate Max or 70-85% of Heart Rate Reserve
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Beginning an aerobic exercise program
-If you are beginning an aerobic training program, start with:
-Five minutes of warmup.
-Five minutes of aerobic training activity.
-Five minutes
of cooldown.
-Repeat the routine three or four times a week. Gradually add time to the aerobic training portion, working up to at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise in each session.
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Aerobic Exercise Guidelines for Optimal Physical Health
-The Surgeon General has determined that lack of physical activity is detrimental to your health. Surgeon General recommends moderate activit
y: 150 calories per day or 1000 calories per week. American College of Sports Medicine suggest all adults should engage in 30 minutes or more of moderately intense physical activity daily. This level
of activity corresponds to 200 kcals a day (Pate RR, Pratt M, Blair SN, et al 1995). See Calorie Expenditure Calculator.
-Other authorities suggest the least amount of activity for optimal physical
health is about 1500-2000 kcals a week of light and moderate intense activities. Additional physical health benefits come with increased intensity and eventually level off at around 3500 kcals per we
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