What is exercise?
Exercise is any movement of the body that is planned, structured, therapeutic, and done repetitively. Any movement of the body that is not planned, structured, or done repetitively is simply physical activity.
What does it mean for an exercise to be planned?
When we say exercise is planned, it simply means the frequency at which this activity is done and the intensity at which it is done. The frequency is how often it is performed, and the intensity is how much power is required to perform this task.
What does it mean for an exercise to be structured?
It simply means the way it is being performed. Therapeutic exercises are sequentially arranged. You don’t just go straight to performing an exercise, but there is always a structure to which an exercise plan is performed. There is cool down, the exercise itself.
What does it mean for an exercise to be repetitive?
This simply means it must be done consistently. It must be done over and over to achieve a result. For example, to lose weight, exercises must be done repetitively.
What does it mean for an exercise to be therapeutic?
This means exercise must be to result to treatment. There are a lot of disease conditions that are treated with exercises. Example is knee arthritis using strengthening and stretching exercises for the sole aim of treatment
What is an equipment?
An equipment is any tool used to perform a task. Equipment helps in performing a task more effectively. It is anything used to perform work other than human power or manual input. It can be mechanical or electrical.
Exercises without the use of equipment
Exercises can be performed without the use of equipment. There are several exercises done manually. It is done either by the person who needs to exercise or with another person’s help due to limitations to perform the exercise by oneself.
Exercises can be performed to strengthen weak muscles because of inactivity or injury to a body part. It can be performed to relieve pain and to restore function to a body part.
Types of exercises
There are different types of exercises based on the objective i. e, the aim of the exercise. Some exercises are for strengthening, some for fitness, some for improving endurance
I will like to categorize exercises into two; aerobic and anaerobic exercises.
Aerobic exercises are exercises that involve the use of oxygen. In this type of exercise, sufficient oxygen is needed to sustain one during this exercise. The heart rate and blood pressure are increased in this type of exercise. The objective of aerobic exercises is to improve endurance and for fitness.
Examples include jumping, dancing, walking, swimming, cycling in the air etc.
Anaerobic exercises are the kind of exercises that require just sufficient energy to perform. They do not involve a large oxygen consumption. In this type of exercise, you only need sufficient energy to carry out the task. This involves weight lifting exercises, contraction of a particular muscle group, stretching of a muscle group etc. Anaerobic exercises are majorly for strengthening muscles.
Examples include press-up, dumbbells lifting, static quadriceps contraction, static gluteal contraction, squatting, bridging exercises, straight leg raising, ankle pump exercises, range of motion exercises, hamstring stretch, calf stretch etc
PT ADESEGUN OLUWATOYIN ADETOLA
CEO CROWNT ENTERPRISE
