Shaheen Ebrahimi
Liam Grunfeld
Mrs. Jobsz
Honors Biology
14 May 2016
Effects of Running
Studies have shown that running as little as 5 minutes a day decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 45% and increases life expectancy by 3 years. The benefits of running are innumerable, however by many people, running is an overlooked form of exercise. In reality, running is a vastly superior form of exercise. Running’s numerous benefits includes improvement of brain function, strengthening of the heart, building of muscles, increasing density of bones, stimulates lymphatic system, and strengthens the immune system. Although there are several dangers to running, its boundless benefits outweighs its cons.
To begin, running has shown to significantly reduce age-related shrinkage within the brain. The brain is a crucial part of the body, without it, humans would be unable to function and perform basic tasks. However, as time goes on, the brain begins to shrink with age and lose some of its functionality. Nevertheless, running has proven itself to be a great way to reduce and
First of all, running, because of its high impact nature, can increase bone mineral density. As the feet hit the ground, the bones within the legs and feet are be put under considerable stress. In response to this, the body activates a series of reactions to boost the bone mineral density to avoid injury to the bones subject to the stress. Because of this, running is often used as a therapy to combat diseases such as osteoporosis. However, according to a Missouri University study, bone mineral density was only found to increase from short duration exercises, while long duration exercises showed to decrease it. This means that short distance running such as sprinting is most beneficial to increasing bone density. Still, long-distance runs can be just as beneficial, as long as they are of a shorter
•While exercising your lungs tries to increase the intake of oxygen as well as release the carbon dioxide.
In the book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and The Brain by Dr. John J. Ratey, MD (2008), Ratey discuses how exercise can help treat many mood disorders and how it can help strengthen our brains. This book is divided into ten chapters all with five to ten subsections in them. The chapters include: Welcome to the revolution: A Case Study on Exercise and the brain, Learning, Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Attention Deficit, Addiction, Hormonal Changers, Aging, and the Regimen.
Several of the most active areas of research in risk reduction and prevention include cardiovascular factors, physical fitness, and diet. Any damage to blood vessels could cause damage to the brain. This is because the brain is link to these blood vessels. Regular physical exercise increases blood and oxygen flow to the brain which increases the health of the brain. Eating healthy has an effect on heart health which links to brain health. This diet includes little red meat and more of vegetables and produce, as well as fish, nuts, and other healthy
body - but what actually constitutes exercise? Exercise can be dissected into two major categories, aerobic exercise and anaerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise is usually a lower intensity, longer endurance form of energy usage that raises the respiratory and pulse rate of the individual. The major physiological classification of this type of exercise is that it accesses the aerobic energy generation process - loosely meaning that your cells need and use more oxygen during this type of exercise (1). Anaerobic exercise is a type of activity that is usually short lived and in high intensity, such as weight lifting or short sprinting. This type of activity does not require your body’s cells to take up increased amounts of oxygen. Anaerobic exertion must use a very fast fuel source like the phosphates creatinine phosphate and adenosine triphosphate as well as anaerobic glycolysis (2). If the individual continues to work past the means of anaerobic exercise, the body will begin to use aerobic pathways for energy production like the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, which require much higher quantities of oxygen (1).
What is Biomechanics? It is the study of forces and their effects on the living system (McGinnis, 2013). In this essay, I will be looking at the biomechanics of running. Running, as well as any other sport requires skills for which advancement is due to consistent deliberate practice and effective development. However, runners should establish a training system that actively builds their original running pattern instead of basing it on what works well for others. Understanding the biomechanics of running gives a better knowledge of their running techniques and points out areas of concerns that require improvement. Despite the fact that running is dependent on the interaction of the whole body, breaking down the running pace into single components allows us to further understand how minor changes can increase improve performance and decrease injury risk.
There are many benefits of exercise on the human body, not only physical, but mental. Research has proved that exercise can benefit your mental health and your ability to learn. Exercise has many positive effects on patients suffering from a mental health disorder, such as depression or anxiety. Exercise releases chemicals in the brain called serotonin, which is a mood booster. The chemical can combat depression and help alleviate some of the symptoms that come with it. Exercise is shown to alleviate 25 different medical conditions, whether through secondary or direct benefits, such as Alzheimer’s. People who exercise are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than ones who don’t because exercise releases chemicals in the brain that support the healthy growth of neurons. Exercise can also serve as a mental “buffer” against problems such as stress, which prevents further problems like depression. This creates a mental resistance to outside forces, which aid in day to day life. Exercise can also help in education. Studies show that schools with academic programs that lack physical education perform worse than ones that have a more robust system. Majority of research indicates that replacing some academic periods with physical education results in higher academic achievement for students and improved concentration and focus. Exercise is shown to increase circulation and blood flow to the brain which increases cognitive function and the efficiency of the brain, having a profound impact on the human body and its ability to function efficiently. Exercise also engages the prefrontal cortex and stimulates it, which is responsible for complex thought and problem solving. This is proven to increase creativity, concentration and test scores. Stu...
Although the brain lies just below the surface of the human body, it has intrigued and puzzled neuroscientist for decades. …..There are numerous complex processes that are involved in brain recovery after attaining an injury or experiencing some sort of trauma. This essay will examine the concepts of neural networks, neuroplasticity and how exercise, surgery or therapy assist in the brain repair process by referring to a number of case studies.
Of the more than twenty million Americans who are running today, most who start do so for the wrong reasons, with the wrong attitude, and tend to lose interest after a few weeks or months. Many quit. This is usually because they become concerned with superficial goals such as time and distance and never discover the more profound mental benefits that running offers. (Lilliefors 15)
Walking on the street, jumping the fence, running the race, swimming in the pool or playing a football, if you keep on doing this, you are doing a wonderful job. Being a physically active not only improves your physical health, it also helps you built mentally strong. Physical activity encourages the brain to work at optimum capacity to increase productivity and helps to release the endorphins (the chemical produced by the brain) to make brain and body relaxed. The first step in life for prevention and management of disease and disorder is exercise. Exercise and Physical activity gain the attention of researchers regarding treatment of different psychopathological Disorder. Many research shows that involving in physical activity and exercise
In order to avoid the physical effects of aging, it is suggested that individuals engage in frequent exercise. Doing so will enhance muscular and cardiac ability, and will reduce one’s risk of various forms of heart disease and obesity (Myers & DeWall, 2016). Due to an increase in oxygen flow, exercise may also stimulate neurogenesis (Myers & Dewall, 2016), a process that promotes growth in hippocampal nerve cells that may result in an improved ability to retain memory. In relation to physical exercise, it is also suggested that adults in middle or late adulthood participate in “brain training” exercises, which have shown to make small improvements in one’s depreciating cognitive development. As a result of the brain’s neural plasticity, such brain exercises have the potential to enhance an individual’s ability to complete control tasks, while other research indicates that it can result in an overall sharpness of the mind (Myers & DeWall, 2016). Despite the onset of an aging mind and body that is characteristic of adulthood, exercise of all forms can induce positive outcomes for older individuals in both their physical and cognitive
Running can improve your mood, as well as physical health, “Running reduces stress by boosting levels of serotonin in your brain and creating a more positive mood. Self-esteem is improved and goals are achieved through running. Runners realize a greater sense of self-reliance and accomplishment… Cardiovascular health is greatly improved through running by increasing your heart rate and working the heart muscles on a regular basis” (RunAddicts). Running is similar to a drug, however without the withdrawal effects. Similar to MDMA (ecstasy), running releases serotonin. After running one feels tired but refreshed and energized due to the serotonin released, which is referred to as the “runner’s high”. This runner’s high, somewhat similar to a drug intoxication, causes a euphoria and creates a positive and energized mood, which temporarily regulates anxiety, improves sleep quality, and constructs a better self-image. As well as being mentally advantageous, running is also physically constructive. Like running and swimming, through working the heart muscles and increasing your heart rate running can also improve endurance and cardiovascular health by allowing the blood to pump more powerfully. Furthermore, running can drastically improve one’s
What is Athletic training, and what could someone do with an athletic training degree? Athletic training is a unique field because it requires a strong mental and physical ability. These trainers go by many different titles such as: physician extender, wellness manager, rehab specialist, etc. Many trainers do not work under anyone, as they have their own office outside of the athletic setting. However, these trainer also work in many other places, such as: universities, hospitals and clinics, professional sports fields, military bases, etc. With a degree in this field, one might want, for example, to work in a hospital or clinic, as stated above. What would he/she be responsible for in this particular setting? A trainer working in a hospital would try to ease the pain of the injury and help move the patient through the process of the treatment.
Some say simply walking is fine while others say otherwise. In Brown, B. M., Peiffer, J. J., & Martins, R. N. (2013) article “Multiple effects of physical activity on molecular and cognitive signs of brain aging: can exercise slow neurodegeneration and delay Alzheimer’s disease?” a compiled list of conducted research was presented. In (see table 1.), it shows that the largest intervention study up to its date was conducted by, Lautenschlager et al. His study showed an increase of 1.3 points on the on the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale performed by the exercise intervention group. In the same table, it also shows another study group that underwent aerobic exercises and seeing improved performance on executive functions Baker et al. Supporting evidence from (see figure 1.) is shown from researchers Matta, M. P., Cevada, T., Sobral Monteiro-junior, R., Teixeira Guimarães, T., Da, C. R., Lattari, E., . . Camaz Deslandes, A.
Stress is an inevitable part of life but there can be a healthy ways to respond to it. As individuals start to fight their stress with running exercises, they can realize that they slowly become more immune towards future stress. Although running is a challenging sport, it does not require too much from a person. There can be many long-term goals established through this physical activity. Exercise can be an advantage to the physical body and contributes to lowering stress
A Surgeon General's report (Anonymous,1996) addresses the finding that continuous and consistent physical activity is proven to enhance longevity and the quality of life for people of all ages. Furthermore, the report notes that although it has been recognized for years that regular physical activity can lead to substantial health benefits, 60% of American adults are not regularly active, and 25% of the adult population are not active at all. Paffenbarger (1996) states that physical fitness and exercise can reduce the risk of diseases such as heart disease, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, some cancers, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, and obesity. Studies also show that exercise can promote psychological well-being and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression (http://www.medgraph.com/aboutexercise.html).