Question

Explain the role of regular physical activity and its effect on healthy aging. Also, explain how regular cardio exercise and strength training? Through the Neuromuscular system and Cardiorespiratory system.

Answer 1

The sedentary lifestyles that predominate in older age results in premature onset of ill health, disease and other age related problems like hypertension, osteoarthritis, etc, by performin regular physical activty they can prevent or delay some of the age related diseases. Regular physical activity helps to improve physical and mental functions as well as reverse some effects of chronic disease to keep older people mobile and independent. There are evidence to indicate that regular physical activity is safe for healthy and for frail older people and the risks of developing major cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, obesity are considrebly decreased,

Regular cardio exercise and stergth training results in  physiological adaptations in the neuromuscular, cardiovascular and respiratory systems of the human body. Regular physical activity results in  adaptations that enhances performance. The type of exercise performed infuences magnitude of adaptation in the neuromuscular system. For example if endurance training is undertaken the muscular system will undergo specific changes that targets aerobic metabolism and improved fatigue resistance. Strength training, in contrast, will cause muscle adaptations such as increased myofibrillar protein synthesis. As a result muscle size, strength and power may increase and improve. Regular exercise makes cardiovascular system more efficient by enlarging the heart muscle, enabling more blood to be pumped with each stroke, and increasing the number of small arteries in trained skeletal muscles, which supply more blood to working muscles. During exercise there is extra demand for oxygen to the skeletal muscles, so there the need to transport oxygen to the working muscles means heart has to work harder as a result heart beats faster and more blood is pumped around the body as a result stroke volume, heart rate and cardiac output will also change