What’s Anaerobic Exercise?

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Anaerobic exercise depletes oxygen faster than the body can replace it, leading to increased muscle strength and endurance. Lactic acid is produced, causing muscle fatigue, but with proper training, the body can better handle it. Examples include weight lifting and sprinting. A physician should supervise any exercise regimen.

Anaerobic exercise is a type of exercise in which the oxygen muscles use to burn energy is depleted faster than the body can replace it. Aerobic exercise is often known to increase heart and lung strength. Anaerobic exercise, on the other hand, is known to increase muscle strength and can help a person avoid muscle fatigue in future exercise. Both aerobic and anaerobic exercises can be used together to help a person be physically fit and achieve their fitness goals. It should be noted that any exercise regimen should be supervised by a physician and should be initiated and concluded with a warm-up and cool-down period, respectively.

Aerobic processes are characterized by the presence and use of oxygen while anaerobic processes are characterized by the lack of oxygen. Therefore, an anaerobic exercise is one in which oxygen is not available for use by the muscles. Instead, muscles need to find energy from other sources, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a compound that serves to supply cells with energy. When muscles burn energy without the presence of oxygen, a byproduct called lactic acid is produced. Lactic acid contributes to muscle fatigue.

Over time, the proper use of anaerobic exercise can lead to increased endurance. As a person continues their training regimen, the body learns how to produce less lactic acid, how to continue working with higher concentrations of the acid, and how to better rid itself of the byproduct. Thus, muscle fatigue is kept at bay for longer periods of time and endurance is increased. Anaerobic exercises are also commonly used to increase muscle mass and muscle strength. This effect is important for those who want to sculpt their body and for those who want to burn calories more efficiently.

Anaerobic exercise is often done in short, rapid bursts. Between these bursts, slower and more sustained exercise should be done to allow the muscles to recover. Some examples of anaerobic exercises include weight lifting, sprinting and hill climbing. In fact, many types of exercise can be turned into anaerobic exercise if done quickly enough to deplete the oxygen used by the muscles.

The important thing to remember before adding any exercise to your regimen, however, is to make sure you’re doing it correctly and that your body can handle the type of exertion you’re undertaking. Scheduling a session with an athletic trainer and visiting your GP for a physical exam might be a good place to start before starting a new exercise regimen.




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