Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

minutes of resistance exercise is sufficient. Ath-
letes in training for events or a competitive season
may engage in longer sessions. Some people move
from one muscle group to the next within each
session; other people focus on one muscle group
in each session, working a different muscle group
the next session.
Resistance exercise also encompasses activities
that exert pressure against the musculoskeletal
system, such as walking and running, which some
people refer to as impact exercise. Nonimpact
activities such as moderate to intense bicycling
and cross-country skiing challenge the muscu-

loskeletal system in the same fashion as working

out with weights. These activities further build

strength and increase FLEXIBILITY.

RESISTANCE ACTIVITIES

body bar free weights

pullups pushups

resistance bands running

walking weight machine

See also AEROBIC CAPACITY; ENDURANCE; FITNESS

LEVEL; HEALTHYPEOPLE 2010 ; PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REC-

OMMENDATIONS.

230 Fitness: Exercise and Health