There are three main types of exercise:
aerobic exercise
flexibility exercise
strength or resistance exercise
Aerobic exercise is any type of cardiovascular conditioning that works your large muscles with rhythmic, repetitive movements. Aerobic exercise makes your heart, lungs, blood vessels, and muscles work more efficiently, increasing your stamina and endurance. Aerobic exercise can also boost your mood, help you sleep better, and reduce:
stress
the risk of breast cancer and breast cancer recurrence
the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis
Examples of aerobic exercises include:
walking
running or jogging
bike riding
using an elliptical machine or a stair stepper
dancing
skiing
skating
playing tennis
swimming
rowing
hiking
playing basketball
playing golf
Flexibility exercises (also called range-of-motion exercise or stretching) improve muscle elasticity and range of motion for your joints. You can expect to feel comfortable tension when you do flexibility exercises — never pain. Having good flexibility can help you do just about any movement more comfortably, from walking to sitting to bending over to pick up something. Flexibility exercises can help reduce stress and make you more relaxed. Flexibility exercises also help ease any stiffness and posture changes that sometimes happen after:
breast cancer surgery
reconstruction (especially reconstruction that uses tissue from another part of your body)
radiation therapy
Examples of flexibility exercises include:
stretching
yoga
Tai Chi
Pilates
Strength exercises — also called resistance exercises — make your muscles work harder by adding weight or resistance to a movement. Strength exercises also make bones stronger, improve balance and posture, and boost quality of life by making household chores and recreational activities easier and more enjoyable. Strength exercises also can help fix muscle imbalance or weakness after breast cancer surgery.
Examples of strength exercises include:
weight lifting
resistance band exercises
kettlebell exercises
body weight exercises, such as pull-ups and push-ups
Written by: Jamie DePolo, senior editor
— Last updated on September 20, 2022, 1:14 AM
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