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Disability Aerobics: Exercises for Seniors and Disabled

Updated/Revised Date: 2023-06-23
Author: Disabled World - Contact Details
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Synopsis: Information and examples of Aerobic exercises for seniors and people with disabilities, including exercises and locations of local aerobic classes. During intense aerobic exercise, the body uses more oxygen, and breathing and heart rate increases. Over time, regular aerobic exercise will improve a person's health and fitness and reduce levels of body fat. While heart rate monitoring has problems in application for some disabled athletes, it is still the most widely used technique for monitoring exercise intensity in all populations, and it should be included in the programming for adaptive aerobics classes, as well as for disabled athletes within mainstream studio aerobics.

Main Document

Aerobics is defined as a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness (flexibility, muscular strength, and cardio-vascular fitness). Aerobic exercise (also known as cardio) is physical exercise of low to high intensity that depends primarily on the aerobic energy-generating process. Aerobic exercise and fitness can be contrasted with anaerobic exercise, of which strength training and short-distance running are the most salient examples.

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During intense aerobic exercise, the body uses more oxygen, and breathing and heart rate increases. Over time, regular aerobic exercise will improve a person's health and fitness and reduce levels of body fat. Regular physical activity reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease and helps to prevent diabetes, injury, and some forms of cancer, as well as positively influencing mental and social health and wellbeing.

Aerobic exercise and fitness can be contrasted with anaerobic exercise, of which strength training and weight training are the most salient examples. The two types of exercise differ by the duration and intensity of muscular contractions involved, as well as by how energy is generated within the muscle. Initially during aerobic exercise, glycogen is broken down to produce glucose, which is then broken down using oxygen to generate energy. Lacking these carbohydrates, fat metabolism is initiated instead.

While heart rate monitoring has problems in application for some disabled athletes, it is still the most widely used technique for monitoring exercise intensity in all populations, and it should be included in the programming for adaptive aerobics classes, as well as for disabled athletes within mainstream studio aerobics.

Several limiting factors on the heart rate being used with standard ranges must be acknowledged; the disabled athlete may have a disability that limits the trainable, usable muscle mass, the disabled athlete may have impaired cardiovascular or autonomic function, the disabled athlete's anaerobic threshold may differ from an athlete without disability and the athlete may be influenced by drugs that alter physiologic responses to exercise.

Recognized Benefits of Regular Aerobic Exercise Include

Some people may suffer repetitive stress injuries with some forms of aerobics, and must choose less injurious, "low-impact" forms of aerobics, or lengthen the gap between bouts of exercise to allow for greater recovery.

Quick Facts Regarding Aerobic Exercise

NOTE: Always consult your doctor before embarking on any new fitness program, especially if you are over 40 years, have a pre-existing medical condition, or haven't exercised in a long time.

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Cite This Page (APA): Disabled World. (2023, June 23). Disability Aerobics: Exercises for Seniors and Disabled. Disabled World. Retrieved September 23, 2023 from www.disabled-world.com/fitness/exercise/aerobics/

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