Anaerobic Exercise

Original Editor - Lucinda hampton

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton and Kim Jackson  

Introduction[edit | edit source]

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Anaerobic exercise is any activity that breaks down glucose for energy without using oxygen. Generally, these activities are of short length with high intensity. The idea is that a lot of energy is released within a small period of time, and the oxygen demand surpasses the oxygen supply.

Exercises and movements that require short bursts of intense energy are examples of anaerobic exercises. These include:

  • Weightlifting
  • Jumping or jumping rope
  • Sprinting[1]

Anaerobic Energy System[edit | edit source]

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The body has three primary ways of creating energy, each serving different types of physical efforts. These physiological pathways are known as energy systems:

  1. Alactic Anaerobic System: This system provides short duration energy for up to about 10 seconds. It's the primary source of energy for very brief, high-intensity activities and does not produce lactic acid as a byproduct.
  2. Lactic Anaerobic System: Responsible for medium short duration energy, this system dominates from about 10 seconds to up to 60-90 seconds of continuous high-intensity effort. It primarily uses glucose for fuel, producing lactic acid as a byproduct, hence the name. This system is critical for activities that are too long to be powered by the alactic system but too short for the aerobic system to take over.
  3. Aerobic System: This system provides long-term energy through the breakdown of oxygen, effectively supporting sustained activities lasting several minutes to hours.[2]

The anaerobic energy system, particularly the lactic acid system, is the body’s method of rapidly creating energy in the form of ATP. After the first 10 seconds of high-intensity activity, when the alactic system's energy is depleted, the lactic anaerobic system becomes the predominant source of energy. It powers the muscles anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds and up to about 90 seconds for sustained intense efforts. This system generates ATP quickly through glycolysis, a process that does not require oxygen. However, due to the accumulation of lactic acid and other byproducts, this system's efficiency diminishes as the effort continues beyond its capacity.

Physiology[edit | edit source]

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The anaerobic energy system produces significantly less ATP than its aerobic counterpart and leads to the build-up of lactic acid.

Exercises typically thought of as anaerobic consist of fast twitch muscles eg sprinting, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), power-lifting. Sustained anaerobic exercise, causes a sustained increase in lactate and metabolic acidosis. As the effort becomes more intense, the amount of lactate eventually outpaces the body’s ability to use and clear it. This transition point is referred to anaerobic threshold (AT).

  • AT can be directly measured via frequent blood samples measuring the blood lactate level during a graded-exercise regimen. Once the blood lactate values are plotted, the point at which the curve makes a sudden sharp incline represents the AT. Other methods include portal lactate analyzers and mathematical formulas involving heart rate (HR)[3].
  • What limits the anaerobic energy system?: The answer is complex and still being studied. Current research suggests that it involves the body’s inability to fully use lactate in addition to the familiar sensation of muscular acidosis. The burning sensations are the result of hydrogen ions, which increase acidity in the muscles[4].

Through the process of glycolysis, blood glucose or muscle glycogen is converted to pyruvate, which will either enter the mitochondria or be converted to lactate, depending on the intensity of exercise.

  • Pyruvate enters the mitochondria at exercise intensity levels below the AT
  • At intensity levels above AT the capacity for mitochondrial respiration (the complete breakdown of carbohydrate) is exceeded and pyruvate is converted to lactate.

Lactate production should not be viewed as a negative metabolic event, but as a consequence of high-intensity exercise. With this increasing exercise intensity there is a shift toward the recruitment of more fast-twitch muscle fibers, which have metabolic characteristics that are geared toward glycolysis. Slow twitch oxidative muscle fibers are metabolically suited for lactate oxidation[5].

Anaerobic Capacity and Anaerobic Power[edit | edit source]

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  1. Anaerobic capacity: Maximal work performed during maximum-intensity short term physical effort; reflects the energy output capacity of anaerobic glycolysis.[6]
  • Maximal anaerobic capacity tests are subdivided into maximal oxygen debt test, ergometric tests (all-out tests and constant load tests), measurement of oxygen deficit during a constant load test and measurement of peak blood lactate (the measurement of the maximal oxygen debt is not valid and reliable enough to be used as an anaerobic capacity test).

2. Anaerobic power: Maximal power (work per unit time) developed during all-out, short-term physical effort; reflects energy-output capacity of intramuscular high-energy phosphates (ATP and PCr) and/or anaerobic glycolysis. This system is depleted quickly and is used for short bursts of intense power output[7]

  • Anaerobic power tests include force-velocity tests, vertical jump tests, staircase tests, and cycle ergometer tests[8].

Benefits[edit | edit source]

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Anaerobic exercises push your body and lungs to rely on energy sources stored in the muscles. The benefits include:

  • Increases bone strength and density: Anaerobic activity (like strength training) can increase the strength and density of bones, decreasing the risk of osteoporosis.
  • Promotes weight maintenance: In addition to helping the body handle lactic acid more effectively, anaerobic exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight.
  • Increases power: It can increase your power. A 2008 study conducted on division 1A baseball players found that players who did eight 20- to 30-second wind sprints three days a week saw their power increase by an average of 15 percent throughout the season.
  • Boosts metabolism: Anaerobic exercise helps boost metabolism as it builds and maintains lean muscle. The more lean muscle you have, the more calories a person burns during your next exercise session. High-intensity exercise is also thought to increase your post-workout calorie burn.
  • Increases lactic threshold: By regularly training above a persons anaerobic threshold, the body can increase its ability to handle lactic acid, which increases your lactic threshold or the point at which they experience fatigue. That means the person is able to work out harder, for longer.
  • Reduces risk of disease: Gains in strength and bone density attained by high-intensity anaerobic training, like bodyweight squats and pushups, can reduce the risk for diabetes and coronary artery disease.
  • Protects joints: By building muscle strength and muscle mass, the joints will be better protected, meaning they have greater protection against injury.
  • Boosts energy: Consistent anaerobic exercise increases the body’s ability to store glycogen, giving you more energy for physical activity. This can improve your athletic ability.[1]

Anaerobic High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)[edit | edit source]

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HIIT Workout

Anaerobic high intensity interval training (HIIT) is a highly desirable workout, because it engaging all muscle fibers, the fast twitch as well as the slow twitch. This makes anaerobic (HIIT) good for a complete training effect. The benefits from anaerobic (HIT) exercise depend on the effort put in. Maximum “effort” by a large muscle mass, such as the legs, produces optimum benefits for the whole body.

  • Typically, a HIIT workout will range from 10 to 30 minutes in duration.
  • Despite how short the workout is, it can produce health benefits similar to twice as much moderate-intensity exercise
  • The actual activity being performed varies but can include sprinting, biking, jump rope or other body weight exercises.
  • EG a HIIT workout using a stationary exercise bike could consist of 30 seconds of cycling as fast as possible against high resistance, followed by several minutes of slow, easy cycling with low resistance. This would be considered one “round” or “repetition” of HIIT, and you would typically complete 4 to 6 repetitions in one workout.
  • The specific amount of time you exercise and recover will vary based on the activity chooseN and how intensely exercise is performed[1].

Examples of Health Related Research

  • Current evidence suggests that HIIT can increase VO2 max and improve some cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight/obese populations.[9]
  • Heart transplant recipients showed significant improvement in VO2peak, heart rate and peak blood pressure in 8 to 12 weeks of intervention with HIIT[10]
  • Sarcopenia and frailty are highly prevalent in older individuals, increasing the risk of disability and loss of independence. High intensity interval training (HIIT) may provide a robust intervention for both sarcopenia and frailty by achieving both strength and endurance benefits with lower time commitments than other exercise regimens[11]
  • A 12-week program of HIIT plus nutritional education improves cardiometabolic and quality of life parameters on type 2 diabetics.[12]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Healthline Anaerobic Exercise Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/anaerobic-exercise#types (accessed 24.3.2021)
  2. MTP THE IMPORTANCE OF ANAEROBIC CAPACITY (AND HOW TRAINING AEROBICALLY DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES IT ) Available from:https://muaythaipros.com/the-importance-of-anaerobic-capacity-and-how-training-aerobically-dramatically-improves-it/ (accessed 24.3.2021)
  3. Patel H, Alkhawam H, Madanieh R, Shah N, Kosmas CE, Vittorio TJ. Aerobic vs anaerobic exercise training effects on the cardiovascular system. World journal of cardiology. 2017 Feb 26;9(2):134. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5329739/(accessed 25.3.2021)
  4. Trainerroad Anaerobic Energy Available from:https://www.trainerroad.com/blog/anaerobic-energy-system-what-it-is-why-its-important-and-how-to-train-it/ (accessed 24.3.2021)
  5. Gladden LB. Muscle as a consumer of lactate. Medicine and science in sports and exercise. 2000 Apr 1;32(4):764-71.Abvailable from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/12539645_Muscle_as_a_consumer_of_lactate(accessed 25.3.2021)
  6. https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/anaerobic+capacity
  7. AP Available from: https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/anaerobic+power (accessed 24.3.2021)
  8. Vandewalle H, Péerès G, Monod H. Standard anaerobic exercise tests. Sports medicine. 1987 Jul;4(4):268-89.Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3306867/ (accessed 24.3.2021)
  9. Batacan RB, Duncan MJ, Dalbo VJ, Tucker PS, Fenning AS. Effects of high-intensity interval training on cardiometabolic health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies. British journal of sports medicine. 2017 Mar 1;51(6):494-503. Available from: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/51/6/494.full.pdf(accessed 25.3.2021)
  10. Perrier-Melo RJ, Figueira FA, Guimarães GV, Costa MD. High-intensity interval training in heart transplant recipients: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Arquivos brasileiros de cardiologia. 2018 Feb;110(2):188-94.Available from:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29466487/ (accessed 25.3.2021)
  11. Seldeen KL, Lasky G, Leiker MM, Pang M, Personius KE, Troen BR. High intensity interval training improves physical performance and frailty in aged mice. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. 2018 Mar 14;73(4):429-37.Available from: (accessed 25.3.2021)
  12. Mangiamarchi P, Caniuqueo A, Ramirez-Campillo R, Cardenas P, Morales S, Cano-Montoya J, Bresciani G, Alvarez C. Effects of high-intensity interval training and nutritional education in patients with type 2 diabetes. Revista medica de Chile. 2017 Jul 1;145(7):845-53.Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29182192/(accessed 25.3.2021)