Adherence
Regular physical activity improves maximum aerobic power (cardiorespiratory fitness) by 10-20% in average urban city-dwellers, bringing their performance levels closer to those observed in circumpolar Scandinavian populations.
Engage in regular physical activity to boost your aerobic fitness. While specific protocols aren't detailed here, the goal is to improve your maximum oxygen intake by 10-20%. This brings your fitness closer to optimal levels seen in active populations. Start now, as the activity is likely beneficial and pleasant, rather than waiting for perfect scientific certainty.
there are good grounds for the belief that the average Canadian city-dweller could improve his aerobic power by 10-20% through a program of regular physical activity; his performance would then approach that reported from Scandinavia.
Why this rating
The paper is an editorial summarizing a symposium; it cites observational data and expert opinion rather than a single controlled trial, noting that 'rigorous scientific proof... may take another hundred years'.
Source
Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health
Raul Martins et al. · JAMA · 1996
DOI 10.1001/jama.1996.03540030075036
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →