Fitness and Physical Activity

Healy, J. (Ed.) (2013). Physical activity and fitness. Retrieved from https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.vlib.excelsior.edu

Mr. Healy discusses the key factor for maintaining good health and general fitness is physical activity. Maintaining a discipline of being physically active has numerous health benefits including chronic disease risk reduction, assisting in control of body weight and improving overall mental well-being. Changes in our work environment and methods of transportation over recent decades has shown an increase in sedentary lifestyles and screen time. He further finds there is a marked association with the rising of obesity and the increase of mortality and morbidity from a number of diseases ranging from diabetes, cancer and heart disease, to name a few. In Australia, only tobacco smoking has been ranked higher in terms of the burden of disease and injury from risk factors, second to physical inactivity. On a global scale, physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for mortality. Also covered are the comprehensive costs of inactivity on an economic, social and global scale. This book reveals the detriment of a sedentary lifestyle and the need for participation in physical activity suited to your age and situation for the betterment of your entire body.

Chulvi-Medrano, I., & Rial, T., & Cortell-Tormo, J. M., & Alakhdar, Y., & La Scala T., & Caue, V., & Masi?-Tortosa, L., & Dorgo, S. (Eds.) (2017). Manual Resistance versus Conventional Resistance Training: Impact on Strength and Muscular Endurance in Recreationally Trained Men. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 16(3): 343-349. (7p). Retrieved from https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.vlib.excelsior.edu

The combined editors of this journal make a compelling case for the use of Manual Resistance Training (MRT) in the field of physical therapy and strength training due to an accommodating resistance nature. During an eight week study, the effects of an MRT program on strength and muscular endurance were compared to a conventional resistance training program. Twenty healthy males were selected and separated into a MRT training group and a conventional training (CT) group. The CT group conducted a series of compound, weighted exercises, and the MRT group performed similar movements with resistance provided by a trainer. Both groups completed training regimens that spanned a defined amount of weeks and workload sets per week with a specified intensity. The authors noted that neither group had any significant maximum strength, muscular strength or endurance increases initially. Despite showing no significant pre-to-post training differences, there was a noted improvement in muscle size indicating greater magnitude of effects in the MRT group compared to CT group.
The efforts of the Doctors listed above culminated in proving the effectiveness of MRT is similar to CT for improving muscular strength and endurance. They have also concluded that MRT can be used in better capacity for rehabilitation or in lesser equipped facilities. With this amount of people conducting research you know it has to be the real deal (EDIT)!!

Bertucci, D.R., & Ferraresi, C. (Eds.) (2016). Strength Training: Methods, Health Benefits and Doping. Retrieved from https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.vlib.exce/lsior.edu

Authors Bertucci and Ferraresi discuss that before considering exercise frequency and intensity one must understand how a muscle contraction actually works. A better comprehension of physiological systems involved and how muscles respond to stressors such as exercise, method of training, nutrition, performance and recovery can better help an individual select the type of workout program suited to their lifestyle. The authors describe the breakdown of the neuromuscular system; a summation of the mind-muscle connection that explains how a muscle is told to move, the energy transfer through the system, strength and growth through hypertrophy (muscle breakdown and rebuilding). Also explored is how your muscles adapt to stimulus on a molecular level. The underlying message is that once you understand how the neuromuscular system works holistically then you can determine fitness goal you want to achieve and pursue that with a science based program instead of chasing the latest fad.

This book comprehensively covers the overlooked basics of how a muscle works and adapts to the stresses of exercise. It covers a differing variety of training types, weights used, rep ranges and how the muscles recover due to tissue damage as a result of training. When you understand how a muscle functions holistically you can train more efficiently without the concerns of over or under training. The authors have compiled information from studies, journals, books and articles related to pharmacology, physiology and exercise taking into consideration both clinical and experimental testing.

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