Physical activity is essential to healthy living. In fact, it is difficult to find a component of health that physical activity does not impact.^1,2 This is especially important in the setting of humanity’s increased sedentary behavior, which is associated with poorer health outcomes.³ How might we as clinicians inspire and support our patients to maximize the potential benefits of exercise and shift away from sedentary behavior? The following guide offers practical concepts and tools to help you and your patients be more physically active.

Basic Concepts

Being fluent in basic concepts and terminology is important when articulating prescriptions for physical activity and exercise. The following section lists some key terms to be aware of.

Key Terms Related to Moving the Body

• Physical activity: Any activity that moves the skeletal muscles of the body and increases energy output (e.g. walking to work)
• Exercise: Structured and repetitive physical activity with a specific intent, usually to improve some component of physical fitness (e.g. weight lifting for muscular strength)
• Physical fitness: Various health- or skill-related physical attributes (e.g. muscular strength)

In short, physical activity, including structured exercise, contributes to health via the development of physical fitness.

There are many ways of categorizing types of physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness. The following scheme is endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).¹ Each exercise represents a category of physical fitness. Body composition, however, is included as an additional fitness category without corresponding to a specific type of exercise. Having a grasp of the major types of exercise can help us to customize recommendations in a patient-centered approach. These exercise types are described in the section below.

Types of Exercise and Physical Fitness

(adapted from the American College of Sports Medicine¹)

Aerobic: Exercise that increases cardiac output and oxygen consumption

• Prototype: Jogging/long distance running
• Physical Fitness: Cardiorespiratory fitness

Resistance: Exercise that uses resistance to develop the skeletal muscles

• Prototype: Weight lifting