Therapy with exercise – USA Application

Abstract

Health concept has been changed in years. Today, not having illness does not necessarly mean being healthy. It is important that we search for better health rather than being satisfied with the decisions of health systems about us. In order to reach to this point we need to develop healthy life style habits. Regular exercise and physical activity has an important place in developing healthy life styles. Scientific studies emphasizes that exercise has an important role in preventing chronic diseases especially the cardiovascular diseases which take the first place in modern societies. To be able to respond the question of how much exercise and how much physical activity, it is necessary to know the meanings of these terms and plan the activities accordingly. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) which developed the saying “exercise is medicine” has also developed the principles for exercise prescription.These principles can be met by activating large muscle groups that will develop cardiorespiratuvar capacity by participating in activities such as walking, jogging, running, swimming, biking, jumping rope, rowing, working with arm and leg ergometer, working on treadmill. The intensity of exercise on the other hand can be determined by writing personal exercise program or personal exercise prescription. General approach in this is to determine the intensity over the the percentage of maximal working capacity or maximal oxygen uptake of the individual. With a similar approach, the intensity of the exercise can be determined by the percentage of maximal MET, maximal heart  rate or maximal heart rate reserve. The positive effects of  planned and controlled exercise programs on cardiac rehabilitation patients are also presented with scientific studies. Hence, the contribution and importance of planned physical activities and exercise programs both on preventing the diseases and gaining the health after chronic diseases have been presented.