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Aerobic Exercise Is Your Prescription for Excellent Health

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Aerobic Exercise Is Your Prescription for Excellent Health

Today you likely go through your typical exercise routine without questioning whether it is good for your health. We’ve come a long way since Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH, published his first book, Aerobics, in 1968. Today the benefits of aerobic exercise, commonly referred to as cardiovascular exercise, have been widely researched by The Cooper Institute. The health benefits of moderately fit individuals include a decreased risk for cancer, diabetes, dementia, depression, high cholesterol, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, stroke and non-fatal heart attacks.

In the 1960s, Dr. Cooper was intrigued with the concept of quantifying exercise and determining the impact of physical fitness, or lack thereof, on the body. He wanted to answer three questions:

  1. What type of exercise is most beneficial?
  2. How do you compare the benefits of different types of physical activity?
  3. How much exercise is best for health?

At the time Dr. Cooper was in the U.S. Air Force and working with NASA to develop the first preflight conditioning and in-flight anti-deconditioning programs for astronauts.

After working with 27,000 men and women in the Air Force to gather research, Dr. Cooper discovered the answers to his questions. Aerobic exercise was the best way to achieve fitness. Based on his findings, he introduced The Aerobics Point System specifically designed to strengthen the heart and lungs, and individually measure the amount of exercise you need.

This unique point system is calculated based on the movement, duration and level of exertion. He determined the more aerobic the activity, the more points obtained. Dr. Cooper published his finding in Aerobics. He recommends accumulating 120 aerobic points each month to maintain good health. The top five aerobic activities are cross-country skiing, swimming, running, outdoor cycling and walking. For a full list of exercises, which includes age-specific information and Aerobics Point values, click here.    

Igniting the Fitness Revolution
Dr. Cooper’s findings sparked thousands to join the fitness movement and reap the benefits of aerobic exercise. Dr. Cooper has traveled to 50 countries preaching the gospel of aerobics. In Brazil and other South American countries, jogging is translated as “Coopering” or “doing the Cooper.” Aerobics has sold 30 million copies and has been translated into 41 languages, including braille.

Today the benefits of aerobic exercise are universally known and have been widely researched by The Cooper Institute which has one of the world’s greatest repository of data on fitness and its health effects. The health benefits of moderately fit individuals include a decreased risk for cancer, diabetes, dementia, depression, high cholesterol, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, stroke and non-fatal heart attacks. In addition, fit people pay lower health care costs and live six to nine years longer than those who are unfit.

Our mission is to follow Dr. Cooper’s philosophy and help others Get Cooperized! Whether you want to be able to play tag with your grandkids or to get employees to live more healthfully, the key is to dedicate yourself to achieving and maintaining good health.

For more information about Cooper Aerobics, click here or call 972.560.2667.
 

Article provided by Cooper Aerobics Marketing and Communications.