Sports

Perfect is a physical phenomenon known to athletes? When a person exercise at a certain level for a certain period over a certain number of weeks, their body will raise its metabolism to a higher level - it will continue at this level as long as a certain amount of exercise is performed each couple of days. This result was discovered by Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper for the United States Air Force in the late 1960s. Dr. Cooper coined the term "Training Effect" for this.

The measured effects were that muscles of respiration were strengthened, the heart was strengthened, blood pressure was infrequently lowered and the total amount of blood and number of red blood cells increased, making the blood a more competent carrier of oxygen. VO2 Max was amplified.

The exercise necessary can be talented by any aerobic exercise in a wide diversity of schedules - Dr. Cooper found it best to award "points" for each amount of exercise and require 30 points a week to preserve the Training Effect.

As it would be foolish for someone unconditioned to challenge 30 points in their first week, Dr. Cooper instead recommends a "12-minute test" followed by adherence to the appropriate starting-up schedule in his book. As always, he recommends that a physical exam should lead any exercise program.