Why should you perform anaerobic exercises?
Anaerobic exercises are exercises carried out without oxygen. The muscles being used during anaerobic exercise have insufficient oxygen and are forced to rely on non-oxygen-dependent processes to generate energy. The difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise is in the intensity and duration of the muscular contractions and how energy is created within the muscle.
During anaerobic exercise, muscles use creatine phosphate to utilize the energy source (ATP) that produces muscle contractions. Once the stored energy has been used, the muscle follows the same process as during aerobic exercise by metabolizing glycogen. But then, instead of breaking down pyruvate as occurs with aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise causes it to ferment and become lactic acid. And the muscle glycogen is replaced from digested carbs, blood sugar, or amino acids that have become glucose. The anaerobic threshold has been reached when lactate accumulates in the blood stream because it has been created at a rate exceeding the body’s capability of metabolizing it.
Anaerobic exercise is characterized by high intensity exercise for short periods of time. Muscles benefit from anaerobic training, giving them greater performance capabilities during the high intensity/short duration exercises. The most common form of anaerobic exercise is weight lifting or strength training. The body builds power and mass by utilizing anaerobic training. Athletes use anaerobic training to increase their skills and endurance capability.
