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By Terri Magrans,
M.S., C.S.C.S., A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer -
Life Fitness Academy Trainer
In today’s busy
society, many fitness centers are seeking ways to
provide their members with a time-efficient, yet
effective workout. Cardiovascular and strength
circuit training programs enable facilities to do
this as they are designed to move participants
through a sequenced order of exercises for a
total-body workout that can be completed in less
than 30 minutes. Therefore, this format of circuit
training allows fitness facilities to help busy
people fit exercise into their day.
Cardiovascular and strength circuit training is a
total-body workout that involves performing a series
of different exercises in one training session,
alternating between intervals of strength training
and cardiovascular exercise (1). Because the workout
includes both strength and cardio training,
exercisers will realize the benefits of both types
of exercise.
Some of the benefits of total-body strength training
include increased strength, lean body mass, improved
posture and muscle balance and increased bone
density, which helps prevent osteoporosis.
Unlike circuit programs, traditional strength
training allows for heart rate recovery during the
rest period between strength training exercises.
Because circuit program exercises quickly alternate
between strength and cardiovascular, the exerciser’s
heart rate remains elevated and sustained above a
resting level throughout the workout. This promotes
cardiovascular conditioning and reduces the need for
a separate cardiovascular component in the workout.
Benefits of cardiovascular conditioning include
improved energy levels, lower blood pressure,
increased HDL (good cholesterol) levels, reduced
risk of heart disease and improved endurance.
Circuit training programs are also proven to burn
more calories compared to traditional
strength-training programs (2-3) due to the
maintenance of an elevated heart rate. By keeping
the heart rate up throughout the session, more work
is performed in less time resulting in greater
caloric expenditure during the workout. (4). The
addition of cardiovascular exercise between strength
exercises also increases lean body mass, which
results in a higher resting metabolism (4). This
means more calories are burned throughout the day.
The end result is that circuit training improves
general conditioning, body composition, muscular
endurance, muscular strength, and cardiovascular
fitness (5).
Listed below are the steps for performing a
cardiovascular and strength circuit-training
routine:
-
The participant
chooses a resistance level on a
strength-training machine that will allow him or
her to perform the exercise as many times as
possible within a specified period of time, such
as 30 seconds. The goal is to fatigue the muscle
by the end of the time period.
-
The exerciser
next performs the designated cardiovascular
transition exercise for the specified time
-
Then the
participant moves to the next strength machine
and performs the exercise for the specified time
-
The exerciser
continues to alternate between strength training
and cardiovascular exercise for the balance of
the circuit.
-
The facility can
control time periods using music, lights or
voice command cues.
Circuit training
programs are generally performed three times per
week. As muscular strength will increase with time,
the resistance level will need to be increased as
fitness levels improve.
From a facility’s perspective, circuit training
requires minimal floor space and can increase the
number of members using a set of products during a
period of time. Additionally, by offering programs
to address a wide variety of target groups, in
addition to individuals with time constraints, a
facility can attract new members.
References
1. Franks, B D. & Howley, E.T. (1997). Health
Fitness Instructor’s Handbook (3rd ed.). Illinois:
Human Kinetics Co.
2. Wilmore, J.H., et al. (1978). Energy cost of
circuit training. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 10: 75.
3. Wilmore, J.H., et al. (1978). Physiological
alterations consequent to circuit training. Med. Sci.
Sports Exerc., 10: 79.
4. Pratley, R., Nicklas, B. Rubin, M., et al.
(1994). Strength training increases resting
metabolic rate and norepinephrine levels in healthy
50- to 65-yr-old men. J Appl Physiol, 76(1):
133-137.
5. Katch, F.I., Katch, V.L. & McArdle, W. D. (1996).
Exercise Physiology Energy, Nutrition, and Human
Performance (4th ed.). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins
Co.
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