The two base modes of exercise are endurance training and resistance training
Formal training can be a very diverse form of activity including so many types of exercise. As such, it seems that there’s a fairly popular debate that one mode of exercise can be better for you than another. Let’s take a closer look.
The two base modes of exercise are endurance training or cardio, and resistance training or strength training.
What are the differences between Endurance and Resistance training?
Endurance training is an activity that lasts a minimum of at least 3 to 20 minutes. It involves the entire body or at least the lower extremities in a continuous and rhythmical manner. As a result, there will be an elevated heart rate. Jogging or walking is an example.
Resistance training is any activity that involves limited muscle groups or the entire body, in short, intense, well-developed movements that demand increased muscle force generation just short of muscle failure. Weight training or bodyweight exercises for example.
These modes of exercise may appear very different at first glance but they share several mutual benefits:
- Cardiovascular benefits.
- Connective tissue benefits.
- Endocrine and immune system benefits.
- Mental health benefits.
The two modes of exercise indirectly share some specific benefits. For example, resistance training benefits strength gains, flexibility gains, and a superior muscle glycogen replenishment factor. Endurance training promotes a superior cardiorespiratory (heart and lung) improvement factor, metabolic gains, workout recovery gains.
It doesn’t take long before a complimentary benefit is noticeable:
- Endurance recovery supports strength and flexibility gains.
- Glycogen replenishment supports metabolic gains.
- Strength performance is incumbent upon the duration of intensity your heart and lung output supports.
So is one mode of exercise better than the other? Scientifically speaking it would appear more likely one demands the involvement in the other.
