Question

Explain the benefits of endurance training.

Answer 1

1. Cardiorespiratory system: Increases heart size and volume, blood volume, stroke volume, cardiac output, lung volume and maximum oxygen uptake. It also improves the interaction of oxygen with cells. It can decrease resting and sub-maximal exercise heart rates and, when high, blood pressure.
2. Muscular-skeletal system: Increases the number and size of mitochondria, myoglobin and triglyceride storage, and oxidative phosphorylation. It also reduces the chances of injuries.
3. Other effects: Strengthens connective tissues, improves heat acclimatisation and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. It can reduce excess body weight, body fat, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.