Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Activities such as running, road marching, bicycling, swimming, cross-country skiing, rowing, stair climbing, and jumping rope place an extra demand on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. During exercise, these systems attempt to supply oxygen to the working muscles. Most of this oxygen is used to produce energy for muscular contraction. Any activity that continuously uses large muscle groups for 20 minutes or longer taxes these systems. Because of this, a wide variety of training methods is used to improve cardiorespiratory endurance.

Aerobic exercise uses oxygen to produce most of the body's energy needs. It also brings into play a fairly complex set of physiological events.

To provide enough energy-producing oxygen to the muscles, the following events occur: Greater movement of air through the lungs. Increased movement of oxygen from the lungs into the blood stream. Increased delivery of oxygen-laden blood to the working muscles by the heart's accelerated pumping action. Regulation of the blood vessel's size to distribute blood away from inactive tissue to working muscle. Greater movement of oxygen from the blood into the muscle tissue. Accelerated return of veinous blood to the heart.

Correctly performed aerobic exercise, overtime, causes positive changes in the body's CR system. These changes allow the heart and vascular systems to deliver more oxygen-rich blood to the working muscles during exercise. Also, those muscles regularly used during aerobic exercise undergo positive changes. By using more oxygen, these changes let the muscles make and use more energy during exercise and, as a result, the muscles can work longer and harder.

During maximum aerobic exercise, the trained person has an increased maximum oxygen consumption (VO₂max). He is better able to process oxygen and fuel and can therefore provide more energy to the working muscles.

The best way to determine aerobic capacity is to measure it in the laboratory. It is much easier, however, to estimate maximum oxygen uptake by using other methods.

It is possible to determine a person's CR fitness level and get an accurate estimate of his aerobic capacity by using his APFT 2-mile-run time. Other tests - the bicycle, walk, and step tests - may also be used to estimate one's aerobic capacity and evaluate one's CR fitness level.

Aerobic exercise is the best types of activity for attaining and maintaining a low percentage of body fat.

In the presence of oxygen, muscle cells produce energy by breaking down carbohydrates and fats. In fact, fats are only used as an energy source when oxygen is present. Hence, aerobic exercise is the best type of activity for attaining and maintaining a low percentage of body fat.

A person's maximum aerobic capacity can be modified through physical training. To reach very high levels of aerobic fitness, one must train hard. The best way to improve CR fitness is to participate regularly in a demanding aerobic exercise program.

Many factors can negatively affect one's ability to perform well aerobically. These include the following: Age. Anemia. Carbon monoxide from tobacco smoke or pollution. High altitude (reduced oxygen pressure). Illness (heart disease). Obesity. Sedentary life-style.

Any condition that reduces the body's ability to bring in, transport, or use oxygen reduces a person's ability to perform aerobically. Inactivity causes much of the decrease in physical fitness that occurs with increasing age. Some of this decrease in aerobic fitness can be slowed by taking part in a regular exercise program.

Certain medical conditions also impair the transport of oxygen. They include diseases of the lungs, which interfere with breathing, and disabling heart conditions. Another is severe blocking of the arteries which inhibits blood flow to the heart and skeletal muscles.