chapter 1

Copyright © 2014 American College of Sports Medicine

Chapter 1Benefits and Risks Associated

with Physical Activity

Chapter 1Benefits and Risks Associated

with Physical Activity


Physical Activity and Fitness TerminologyPhysical Activity and Fitness Terminology

• Physical activity

– Any bodily movement produced by the contraction of skeletal muscles that results in a substantial increase in caloric requirements over resting energy expenditure

• Exercise

– A type of physical activity consisting of planned, structured, and repetitive bodily movement done to improve and/or maintain one or more components of physical fitness


Physical Activity and Fitness Terminology (cont.)


• Physical fitness

– A set of attributes or characteristics that individuals have or achieve that relates to their ability to perform physical activity




• Cardiorespiratory endurance: The ability of the circulatory and respiratory system to supply oxygen during sustained physical activity.

• Body composition: The relative amounts of muscle, fat, bone, and other vital parts of the body.

• Muscular strength: The ability of muscle to exert force.

• Muscular endurance: The ability of muscle to continue to perform without fatigue.

• Flexibility: The range of motion available at a joint.

Box 1.1 Health-Related and Skill-Related Components of Physical Fitness Box 1.1 Health-Related and Skill-Related Components of Physical Fitness HEALTH-RELATED PHYSICAL FITNESS COMPONENTSHEALTH-RELATED PHYSICAL FITNESS COMPONENTS


• Agility: The ability to change the position of the body in space with speed and accuracy.

• Coordination: The ability to use the senses, such as sight and hearing, together with body parts in performing tasks smoothly and accurately.

• Balance: The maintenance of equilibrium while stationary or moving.

• Power: The ability or rate at which one can perform work.

• Reaction time: The time elapsed between stimulation and the beginning of the reaction to it.

• Speed: The ability to perform a movement within a short period of time. Adapted from (43,55). Available from http://www.fitness.gov/digest_mar2000.htm

Box 1.1 Health-Related and Skill-Related Components of Physical Fitness (cont.)Box 1.1 Health-Related and Skill-Related Components of Physical Fitness (cont.)SKILL-RELATED PHYSICAL FITNESS COMPONENTS (cont.)SKILL-RELATED PHYSICAL FITNESS COMPONENTS (cont.)


FIGURE 1.1. Estimated dose-response curve for the relative risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) by sample percentages of fitness and physical activity. Studies weighted by individual-years of experience. Used with permission from (64).

64. Williams PT. Physical fitness and activity as separate heart disease risk factors: a meta–analysis. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;33(5):754–61.


Public Health Perspective forCurrent Recommendations

Public Health Perspective forCurrent Recommendations

• A meta-analysis of 23 sex-specific cohorts of physical activity or fitness representing 1,325,004 individual-years of follow-up showed a dose-response relationship between physical activity or physical fitness and the risks of coronary artery disease and cardiovascular disease.

• Greater amounts of physical activity or increased physical fitness levels provide additional health benefits.


Public Health Perspective for Current Recommendations (cont.)





• Two important conclusions from the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report that have impacted the development of these guidelines:

– Important health benefits can be obtained by performing a moderate amount of physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week.

– Additional health benefits result from greater amounts of physical activity. Individuals who maintain a regular program of physical activity that is longer in duration and/or is more vigorous in intensity are likely to derive greater benefit.




• From the ACSM-AHA updated recommendation on physical activity and health:

“Since the 1995 recommendation, several large scale observational epidemiologic studies, enrolling thousands to tens of thousands of individuals, have clearly documented a dose-response relationship between physical activity and risk of cardiovascular disease and premature mortality in men and women, and in ethnically diverse participants.”


Box 1.2 The ACSM-AHA Primary Physical Activity Recommendations (23) Box 1.2 The ACSM-AHA Primary Physical Activity Recommendations (23) • All healthy adults aged 18–65 yr should participate in moderate

intensity, aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 30 min on 5 d · wk−1 or vigorous intensity, aerobic activity for a minimum of 20 min on 3 d · wk−1.

• Combinations of moderate and vigorous intensity exercise can be performed to meet this recommendation.

• Moderate intensity, aerobic activity can be accumulated to total the 30 min minimum by performing bouts each lasting ≥10 min.

• Every adult should perform activities that maintain or increase muscular strength and endurance for a minimum of 2 d · wk−1.


Box 1.2 The ACSM-AHA Primary Physical Activity Recommendations (23) (cont.)Box 1.2 The ACSM-AHA Primary Physical Activity Recommendations (23) (cont.)

• Because of the dose-response relationship between physical activity and health, individuals who wish to further improve their fitness, reduce their risk for chronic diseases and disabilities, and/or prevent unhealthy weight gain may benefit by exceeding the minimum recommended amounts of physical activity.

ACSM, American College of Sports Medicine; AHA, American Heart Association.


• All Americans should participate in an amount of energy expenditure equivalent to 150 min · wk−1 of moderate intensity, aerobic activity; 75 min · wk−1 of vigorous intensity, aerobic activity; or a combination of both that generates energy equivalency to either regimen for substantial health benefits.

• These guidelines further specify a dose-response relationship, indicating additional health benefits are obtained with 300 min · wk−1 or more of moderate intensity, aerobic activity; 150 min · wk−1 or more of vigorous intensity, aerobic activity; or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous intensity, aerobic activity.

Box 1.3 The Primary Physical Activity Recommendations from the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines Committee Report (56)

Box 1.3 The Primary Physical Activity Recommendations from the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines Committee Report (56)


The 2008 federal physical activity guidelines also recommend breaking the total amount of physical activity into regular sessions during the week (e.g., 30 min on 5 d · wk−1 of moderate intensity, aerobic activity) in order to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Box 1.3 The Primary Physical Activity Recommendations from the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines Committee Report (56) (cont.)

Box 1.3 The Primary Physical Activity Recommendations from the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines Committee Report (56) (cont.)


• Increased maximal oxygen uptake resulting from both central and peripheral adaptations

• Decreased minute ventilation at a given absolute submaximal intensity

• Decreased myocardial oxygen cost for a given absolute submaximal intensity

• Decreased heart rate and blood pressure at a given submaximal intensity

• Increased capillary density in skeletal muscle

• Increased exercise threshold for the accumulation of lactate in the blood

• Increased exercise threshold for the onset of disease signs or symptoms (e.g., angina pectoris, ischemic ST-segment depression, claudication)

IMPROVEMENT IN CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATORY FUNCTIONIMPROVEMENT IN CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATORY FUNCTION

Box 1.4 Benefits of RegularPhysical Activity and/or ExerciseBox 1.4 Benefits of RegularPhysical Activity and/or Exercise


• Reduced resting systolic/diastolic pressure

• Increased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and decreased serum triglycerides

• Reduced total body fat, reduced intra-abdominal fat

• Reduced insulin needs, improved glucose tolerance

• Reduced blood platelet adhesiveness and aggregation

• Reduced inflammation

REDUCTION IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK FACTORSREDUCTION IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK FACTORS

Box 1.4 Benefits of RegularPhysical Activity and/or Exercise (cont.)Box 1.4 Benefits of RegularPhysical Activity and/or Exercise (cont.)


• Primary prevention (i.e., interventions to prevent the initial occurrence)

• Higher activity and/or fitness levels are associated with lower death rates from coronary artery disease

• Higher activity and/or fitness levels are associated with lower incidence rates for CVD, CAD, stroke, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, osteoporotic fractures, cancer of the colon and breast, and gallbladder disease

• Secondary prevention (i.e., interventions after a cardiac event to prevent another)

DECREASED MORBIDITY AND MORTALITYDECREASED MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY



• Based on meta-analyses (i.e., pooled data across studies), cardiovascular and all-cause mortality are reduced in patients with post-myocardial infarction (MI) who participate in cardiac rehabilitation exercise training, especially as a component of multifactorial risk factor reduction

• Randomized controlled trials of cardiac rehabilitation exercise training involving patients with post-MI do not support a reduction in the rate of nonfatal reinfarction

DECREASED MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY (cont.)DECREASED MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY (cont.)


OTHER BENEFITSOTHER BENEFITS• Decreased anxiety and depression

• Improved cognitive function

• Enhanced physical function and independent living in older individuals


OTHER BENEFITS (cont.)OTHER BENEFITS (cont.)


• Enhanced feelings of well-being

• Enhanced performance of work, recreational, and sport activities

• Reduced risk of falls and injuries from falls in older individuals

• Prevention or mitigation of functional limitations in older adults

• Effective therapy for many chronic diseases in older adults

CAD, coronary artery disease; CVD, cardiovascular disease.

Adapted from (26,37,55).


2. American College of Sports Medicine, American Heart Association. Exercise and acute cardiovascular events: placing the risks into perspective. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007;39(5):886–97.


Sudden Cardiac Death among Young Individuals

Sudden Cardiac Death among Young Individuals

• Absolute annual risk of exercise-related death among high school and college athletes:

– One per 133,000 men

– One per 769,000 women

• It should be noted that these rates, although low, include all sports-related nontraumatic deaths. Of the 136 total identifiable causes of death, 100 were caused by CVD.


Exercise-Related Cardiac Events in AdultsExercise-Related Cardiac Events in Adults

• Absolute risk of sudden cardiac death during vigorous intensity, physical activity has been estimated at one per year for every 15,000–18,000 previously asymptomatic individuals.

• Although these rates are low, more recent available research has confirmed the increased rate of sudden cardiac death and acute MI among adults performing vigorous intensity exercise when compared to their younger counterparts.

• The physically active or fit adult has about 30%–40% lower risk of developing CVD compared to those who are inactive.


Exercise Testing and the Risk of Cardiac Events

Exercise Testing and the Risk of Cardiac Events

• The risks of various cardiac events include acute MI, ventricular fibrillation, hospitalization, and death.

• These data indicate that in a mixed population the risk of exercise testing is low, with approximately six cardiac events per 10,000 symptom-limited maximum tests.


Risks of Cardiac Events during Cardiac Rehabilitation

Risks of Cardiac Events during Cardiac Rehabilitation

• In one survey, there was one nonfatal complication per 34,673 h and one fatal cardiovascular complication per 116,402 h of cardiac rehabilitation.

• More recent studies have found a lower rate, one cardiac arrest per 116,906 patient-hours, one MI per 219,970 patient-hours, one fatality per 752,365 patient-hours, and one major complication per 81,670 patient-hours.

• The mortality rate appears to be six times higher when patients exercised in facilities without the ability to successfully manage cardiac arrest.


2. American College of Sports Medicine, American Heart Association. Exercise and acute cardiovascular events: placing the risks into perspective. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007;39(5):886–97.


Prevention of Exercise-Related Cardiac Events

Prevention of Exercise-Related Cardiac Events

• Health care professionals should know the pathologic conditions associated with exercise-related events so that physically active children and adults can be appropriately evaluated.

• Physically active individuals should know the nature of cardiac prodromal symptoms and seek prompt medical care if such symptoms develop (see Table 2.1).


Prevention of Exercise-Related Cardiac Events (cont.)


• High school and college athletes should undergo preparticipation screening by qualified professionals.

• Athletes with known cardiac conditions or a family history should be evaluated prior to competition using established guidelines.




• Health care facilities should ensure that their staffs are trained in managing cardiac emergencies, have a specified plan, and have appropriate resuscitation equipment (see Appendix B).

• Physically active individuals should modify their exercise program in response to variations in their exercise capacity, habitual activity level, and the environment.


The Bottom LineThe Bottom Line• A large body of scientific evidence supports the role of physical

activity in delaying premature mortality and reducing the risks of many chronic diseases and health conditions. There is also clear evidence for a dose-response relationship between physical activity and health. Thus, any amount of physical activity should be encouraged.

• Ideally, an initial target should be 150 min · wk−1 of moderate intensity, aerobic activity; 75 min · wk−1 of vigorous intensity, aerobic activity; or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous intensity, aerobic activity. To minimize musculoskeletal injuries, physical activity bouts should be broken up during the week (e.g., 30 min of moderate intensity, aerobic activity on5 d · wk−1).


The Bottom Line (cont.)The Bottom Line (cont.)• Additional health benefits result from greater amounts of physical

activity. Individuals who maintain a regular program of physical activity that is longer in duration and/or is more vigorous in intensity are likely to derive greater benefit than those who do lesser amounts.

• Although the risks associated with exercise transiently increase while exercising, especially exercising at vigorous intensity, the benefits of habitual physical activity substantially outweigh the risks. In addition, the transient increase in risk is of lesser magnitude among individuals who are regularly physically active compared with those who are inactive.

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