Exercise and Physical Activities

• Fitness: What Will Move You?

  Discover the benefits of being physically active, and explore ideas for activities you might try.

• Measuring the Intensity of Your Activity

  Learn how to measure the intensity of an activity so you can achieve your goals for a healthier life.

• The Three Kinds of Fitness

  There are three kinds of fitness: Aerobic fitness. Aerobic activities condition your heart and lungs. Aerobic means "with oxygen." The purpose of aerobic conditioning is to increase the amount of oxygen that is delivered to your muscles, which allows them to work longer. Any activity that raises your...

• Osteoarthritis: Exercising With Arthritis

  Covers exercises that are helpful for a person with osteoarthritis. Includes aerobic, strength, and flexibility exercises, and tips to motivate yourself. Includes things to avoid. Looks at why it is important to exercise and gives tips on how to exercise.

• Bob's Story: Biking for Health

  During his career, Bob couldn't find time for exercise. He worked hard and traveled a lot for his job. Fast-food meals were a way of life on the road, and he was overweight. At age 59, he had a heart attack. Then, 5 years later, he had quadruple bypass surgery. A few years after the surgery, he found out he had...

• Preventing Falls: Exercises for Strength and Balance

  As people age, they lose muscle strength, which can make them more likely to fall. Also, their reflexes slow down. This makes it harder for them to regain their balance if they start to fall. Learn some strength and balance exercises, and take the time to do them each day. This can help you stay active and...

• COPD: Exercises for Building Strength

  Try a few gentle and safe exercises to build your strength.

• Preventing Falls: Two Good Exercises

  Learn how to do two exercises to improve your strength and balance.

• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Stretching and Strengthening Exercises

  Stretching and strengthening exercises can help a child who has juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) control pain and stiffness and maintain mobility. A physical therapist can help figure out how much exercise is appropriate for each child. Stretching exercises are those in which the joints are moved through...

• The Three Kinds of Fitness

  There are three kinds of fitness: Aerobic fitness. Aerobic activities condition your heart and lungs. Aerobic means "with oxygen." The purpose of aerobic conditioning is to increase the amount of oxygen that is delivered to your muscles, which allows them to work longer. Any activity that raises your...

• Osteoarthritis: Exercising With Arthritis

  Covers exercises that are helpful for a person with osteoarthritis. Includes aerobic, strength, and flexibility exercises, and tips to motivate yourself. Includes things to avoid. Looks at why it is important to exercise and gives tips on how to exercise.

• Exercise for Rheumatoid Arthritis

  Exercise can reduce pain and improve function in people who have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Also, exercise may help prevent the buildup of scar tissue, which can lead to weakness and stiffness. Exercise for arthritis takes three forms: stretching, strengthening, and conditioning. Stretching involves moving...

• Cardiac Rehabilitation: Weight and Resistance Training

  Resistance training with weights, elastic bands, or your own body weight may help you regain the physical strength and confidence to do the daily tasks you performed before your heart problem or surgery. Resistance training can help you get the most benefit from your cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program. Do...

• Healthy Muscles

  Muscle fitness is one of three important types of overall physical fitness. The others are aerobic fitness and flexibility. When you increase your muscle fitness, you'll notice that you can carry heavy grocery bags more easily, pick up children without feeling as much strain, or carry heavy items longer before you...