Exercise Assessment & Prescription – Theory and Application:

Individualizing Exercise Prescription

PHE 419Fall 2010

Revisiting the context

What is ‘physical activity’?

Includes all forms of activity that are performed without the specific purpose of fitness or health- occupational- recreational- sports-related

What is ‘exercise’?

An activity for the express purpose of improving fitness or health

Revisiting the context

Different types of exercise:

Aerobic (e.g., walking, swimming)

Anaerobic (e.g., sprinting)

Isotonic (e.g., lifting weights)

Resistance training- provides some form of resistance to the contracting muscles to stimulate strength increase

Stretching (should always be part of the exercise plan)

Revisiting the context

Terminology:

Aerobic- use of oxygen in the body’s metabolic process- glycogen is broken down to produce glucose, which then reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water- reaction releases energy

Anaerobic- initial phase of exercise or short bursts of intense exertion- glycogen is respired without oxygen (far less efficient process

Revisiting the context

Different types of exercise:

Aerobic (e.g., walking, swimming)

Anaerobic (e.g., sprinting)

Isotonic (e.g., lifting weights)

Resistance training- provides some form of resistance to the contracting muscles to stimulate strength increase

Stretching (should always be part of the exercise plan)

Revisiting the context

Benefits of exercise:

Improves insulin sensitivity

Improves glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes

Decreases blood pressure

Decreases low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels

Increases high-density lipoprotein levels

Exercise Prescription

Exercise prescription generally includes the following recommendations:

Type of exercise or activity (e.g., walking, swimming, cycling)

Specific workloads (e.g., watts, walking speed)

Duration and frequency of the activity or exercise session

Intensity guidelines- target heart rate (THR) range- estimated rate of perceived exertion (RPE)

Precautions regarding orthopedic or other concerns

General Guidelines

Type of exercise:

Type of exercise or activity (e.g., walking, swimming, cycling)

Specific workloads (e.g., watts, walking speed)

Duration and frequency of the activity or exercise session

Intensity guidelines- target heart rate (THR) range- estimated rate of perceived exertion (RPE)

Precautions regarding orthopedic or other concerns