I couldn’t count how many times it was said at the end of the treatments: „Then: lots of fluids, more movement, more stretching! ”
From the holy trinity, let’s now focus on more movement, including cardio training!
Spring is here, the birds are budding, the trees are singing, 😀 the running instinct kicks in for many at this time, since it is one of the easiest and fastest sports to start, but it is worth discussing the information in a few words.
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Why do we often recommend cardio workouts?
If during sports activity our heart rate increases , our circulation speeds up , blood vessels dilate, it is called cardiovascular exercise, our heart is made to function more in this case and this can have many positive effects, but caution does not hurt here either!
If we manage to keep the load within a healthy framework, our circulation increases, our pool of stagnant blood in the small capillaries of our vascular network is replaced with fresh, oxygen-filled blood, thereby improving areas that are otherwise little used or with poorer circulation (joints, around cartilage, tighter, tighter muscles , immobilized peripherals, etc.), this can bring a significant improvement in many cases.
At the same time, the condition of our cardiovascular system also improves, our heart becomes stronger, the elasticity of the vessel walls increases, in the long term our resting heart rate decreases, our endurance, lung capacity and general fitness also improve.
If that wasn’t enough, most sports activities release endorphins in our body, which definitely improves our mood and helps you to go out for a run again next time. 🙂
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Aerobic or anaerobic?
Cardio training can be divided into two large groups without claiming to be exhaustive, mainly based on the intensity of the heart rate and the oxygen consumption of the muscles: aerobic, that is, exercises performed at a lower heart rate (e.g.: yoga, pilates, walking or slow forms of exercise performed with great attention), and anaerobic, therefore, more intense movements with a higher heart rate (e.g.: running, swimming, cycling, etc.)
During the latter, oxygen consumption is more significant, so our lungs and respiratory organs also work harder, while in the former case, in the case of aerobic movements, our muscles gain more energy from burning fat cells.
The best thing is to mix the two types, so we can make the best use of their beneficial properties.
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What should we pay attention to?
Of course, we should start all sports activities with a warm-up and end with stretching and relaxation, this is really, really important!
Pay attention to fluid intake, we constantly replace the used water from our body. If possible, visit a specialist who can help you choose equipment (running shoes, clothing, exercises , etc.) and increase your efficiency with a good training plan.
It is recommended to use a heart rate monitor during sports , almost any smart watch or fitness bracelet measures your heart rate, or blood oxygen level, so you can gently strain your heart and vascular system, make your training more efficient and reach your goals sooner.
