Definition - What does Cardiovascular Training mean?
Cardiovascular training (CV) is a type of exercise regimen that focuses on working the heart and lungs. Cardiovascular training refers to muscle work that causes the body to consume extra oxygen to fuel the exercise movements. These types of exercises are sometimes called aerobic, meaning "with oxygen."
These aerobic exercises improve the strength of the heart by requiring it to beat at an increased rate during the workout. This rate is necessary to deliver needed oxygen to the body's muscles. Of course, the lungs must also work harder to intake sufficient oxygen to meet the body's increased demand too.
Cardiovascular training may also be referred to as aerobic training or simply cardio.
SureHire explains Cardiovascular Training
Cardiovascular exercises such as running, biking, dancing and other high-movement activities use the large muscles of the body.
When an individual engages in cardiovascular training, the entire cardiovascular system is engaged in delivering oxygen to the muscles in use. Meanwhile, those muscles are burning both carbohydrates and fats to supply the energy needed for the workout. Therefore, cardiovascular training exercises the heart and lungs and burns calories.
Cardiovascular training is distinguishable from anaerobic or strength building exercises. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) characterizes cardio exercises as those involving continuous or rhythmic movements. Whereas anaerobic exercises involve more intense activity, but for a shorter period of time. Interval training and power lifting are examples of anaerobic exercises. These exercises may increase your heart rate temporarily, but do not deliver the steady raised rate of a cardiovascular workout.
