Carolina Fitness Magazine - The Christmas Abbott Issue Fall 2015 | Page 8

THE DIFFERENCE AND ADAPTATIONS OF ANAEROBIC AND AEROBIC SYSTEMS Adaptations are taking place on a number of levels with aerobic training. The first interesting aspect is the body’s ability to increase its metabolic stores, such as glycogen, creatine, triglycerides (fats), and ATP. This is showing that the body understands that it will need to have extra stores for the higher levels of work at times during the training period-more so than it would without training. It is important to note that the body only increases stores to levels that match demand. It will not create extra creatine or glycogen if the body does not believe it is needed. Improvements in the blood flow and body’s ability to adjust blood flow/pressures are another factor in the adaptations that occur with aerobic training. Not only is cardiac output improved upon, but the body will adjust blood flow during exercise or performance to active muscles more than other systems that do not require as much blood (digestive system). Blood pressure and heart rate decreases with regular aerobic training. Respiratory responses involve more efficient gas exchange within the lungs in the alveoli. The concentrations 06 Carolina Fitness Magazine of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) within the blood stream contributes to the success of performance and levels of fatigue (refer to appendix 2). The main difference between the two mechanisms would be when they are utilized from the initiation of exercise. Anaerobic controls activity within the first sixty seconds, then any activity that maintains past that point will be aerobic. It is incorrect to state that one does not use oxygen, both use oxygen except the ratio differences change between the two mechanisms. It all depends on the length of exercise or the event being performed. It is in the best interest of an athlete to train both mechanisms. Both mechanisms can be trained to be efficient, but they may not necessarily be trained at the same time. For example, you wouldn’t have a shot put thrower conducting Olympic lifts in the weight room (to build their power output and anaerobic mechanisms) then request they also add a 3 mile run (aerobic). Performing both of these tasks together would lessen the effectiveness of the athlete. *REFERENCES IN BACK OF MAGAZINE