Systematic physical exercise has many benefits. The more important
benefits are mentioned below :
- Regular exercise taken properly can achieve the increased use
of food by the body, which contributes to health and fitness.
The basal metabolic rate and habitual body temperature will slowly
rise during several weeks of physical exercise, if the programme
is not too hard. The healthy person usually has abundant body
heat and a warm radiant glow.
- Regular progressive physical exercise can bring about the balance
of automatic, or involuntary , nervous system. The tone of the
vagus nerve, one of the nerves that control sensation and motion,
is strengthened. This accounts for stronger pulse waves, higher
metabolism and better circulation.
- Exercise can prevent or reduce gravitational ptosis or sag,
as it is commonly called. Ptosis results from uneven flow of blood
in the feet, legs and lower abdomen.
- Improved capillary action in the working of muscular and brain
tissue results from exercise carried to the point of real endurance.
This permits greater blood flow and gives the muscles, including
the heart, more resistance to fatigue.
Massage, heat and moderate exercise are relatively ineffective
in producing additional capillary action as compared with vigorous
exercise.
- The full use of the lungs in vigorous exercise can reduce or
prevent lung congestion due to lymph accumulation.
- Gas and intra-intestinal accumulations can be reduced by exercise
that acts to knead and squeeze or vibrate the intraintestinal
mass.
- Better respiratory reserve is developed by persistent exercise.
This ensures better breath holding, especially after a standard
exercise. With greater respiratory reserves, exercise become easier.
- Improvement in tone and function of veins can be accomplished
by repetitiously squeezing and draining the blood out of them
and then allowing them to fill.
- Sweating in exercise aids kidneys by helping to eliminate the
waste matter from the body.
- Consistent exercise leads to improvement in quality of blood.
Studies have shown improved haemoglobin levels, relatively greater
alkalinity, improved total protein content and a grater red cell
count.
Systemic exercise promotes physical strength and mental vigour
and strengthens will power and self control leading to harmonious
development of the whole system.
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