How much exercise do we really need? UNE’s Lara Carlson explains in ‘Greatist’ article

Lara Carlson

Lara Carlson, DPE, FACSM, CSCS, associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, was interviewed by the health and fitness website ‘Greatist’ about the amount of daily exercise needed to stay healthy.

In an article titled "What’s the Least Amount of Exercise You Can Do and Still Be Healthy," Carlson said that the amount of exercise you do each day can vary, as long as you’re meeting the weekly guidelines for aerobic activity and strength training. The American Heart Association, American College of Sports Medicine and other health organizations recommend 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of more intense aerobic exercise (or a combo of both), plus two sessions of total-body strength training per week.

Carlson also emphasized the importance of working all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms) through a variety of exercises when completing weekly strength workouts. Although these sessions don’t count toward the 150- or 75-minute goals, they are beneficial in increasing flexibility, strength and balance.

 

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