EXERCISE THERAPY

Physical exercise is any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health or wellness. It is performed for various reasons. These include strengthening muscles and the cardiovascular system, honing athletic skills, weight loss or maintenance and for enjoyment. Frequent and regular physical exercise boosts the immune system, and helps prevent the "diseases of affluence" such as heart disease , cardiovascular disease , Type 2 diabetes and obesity.^[1][2] It also improves mental health, helps prevent depression, helps to promote or maintain positive self-esteem, and can even augment an individual's sex appeal or body image^[3] Childhood obesity is a growing global concern^[4] and physical exercise may help decrease the effects of childhood obesity in developed countries.

Types of exercise

Exercises are generally grouped into three types depending on the overall effect they have on the human body:

• Flexibility exercises, such as stretching, improve the range of motion of muscles and joints.^[5]

• Aerobic exercises, such as cycling, swimming, walking, skipping rope, rowing, running, hiking or playing tennis, focus on increasing cardiovascular endurance.[6]

• Anaerobic exercises, such as weight training, functional training or sprinting, increase short-term muscle strength.^[7]

Categories of physical exercise

• Strength training

• Agility training

Sometimes the terms 'dynamic' and 'static' are used. 'Dynamic' exercises such as steady running, tend to produce a lowering of the diastolic blood pressure during exercise, due to the improved blood flow. Conversely, static exercise (such as weight-lifting) can cause the systolic pressure to rise significantly (during the exercise).

Physical exercise is used to improve physical skills.

• Endurance

• Stamina

• Speed

• Strength

• Flexibility

• Power

• Coordination

• Agility

• Balance

• Accuracy

Benefits

A common elliptical training machine
Physical exercise is important for maintaining physical fitness and can contribute positively to maintaining a healthy weight, building and maintaining healthy bone density, muscle strength, and joint mobility, promoting physiological well-being, reducing surgical risks, and strengthening the immune system.
Exercise also reduces levels of Cortisol is a stress hormone that builds fat in the abdominal region, making weight loss difficult.Cortisol causes many health problems, both physical and mental.^[8]
Frequent and regular aerobic exercise has been shown to help prevent or treat serious and life-threatening chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, insomnia, and depression.^[9] Endurance exercise before meals lowers blood glucose more than the same exercise after meals.^[10]