Aerobic and non-aerobic exercise stimulate different energy pathways in your body. Non-aerobic energy pathways are also known as anaerobic. The duration of your muscular contractions during exercise determine how much energy you produce anaerobicly or aerobicly. Anaerobic exercise consists of brief muscular contractions that occur with strength-based exercise. Aerobic exercise emphasizes continuous and endurance-based activities like running marathons or distance cycling.
Energy Production
Your body produces energy with oxygen during aerobic exercise. Glycogen in your liver or muscles works with fatty acids in your blood and fat stored in your body to supply energy demands for moderate to high intensity aerobic exercise. Your body produces energy without oxygen during anaerobic exercise with a process known as anaerobic glycolisis. Muscles that require intense muscle contractions stimulate an anaerobic effect, because muscle contractions limit the amount oxygen supplied to working muscles and require energy production without oxygen.
Duration of Activity
Bodybuilding.com reports that your body produces energy anaerobicly during intense "all-out" exercise that lasts up to one minute. Anaerobic glycolisis kicks in after approximately 10 seconds of intense exercise. The aerobic energy production system supplies your body with energy during continuous stead-state activity that lasts longer than three to four minutes. Mayoclinic.com recommends performing at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day.
Health Benefits
Aerobic exercise improves your body's ability to use oxygen for energy. Your cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory systems benefit from regular aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise supports a healthy circulatory system by encouraging bloodflow throughout your body. Aerobic exercise can help you control your weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Anaerobic exercise supports strong healthy muscles, tendons and ligaments. Anaerobic exercise encourages lean muscle tissue growth and helps reduce your body fat. Older adults can improve balance and functional abilities with anaerobic exercise.
Types of Activity
Activities like a brisk walk, jogging or riding your bike provide aerobic exercise. Swimming and skating are good ways to activate your aerobic energy system. Daily lifestyle activities like shoveling snow, mowing the lawn, vacuuming the living room and raking leaves can also help you meet your daily dose of aerobic exercise. Sports like baseball, tennis and sprinting stimulate your anaerobic energy pathways. Anaerobic exercises include weightlifting movements such as leg lifts, arm circles and curl-ups. Anaerobic daily lifestyle activities include dusting, doing laundry and washing windows.
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