The Right Amount Of Exercise

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - What is the best form of exercise? Is it swimming? Is it running? Are you better off if you play a sport, competing with other people? Perhaps it is the length of time. Is 40 minutes better than 20 or should you keep it going for an hour?

These are all valid questions. Depending on the person, one answer may be better than the other. But there is one truth related to exercise that cuts across all lines. Consistency of exercise leads to better results.

You know the story of the weekend warrior. That's the person who does nothing all week and then tries to get all that exercise in on a Saturday afternoon. This will lead to major problems in many cases. These are people who pull muscles or find themselves waking up the next day with tightness throughout the entire body.

The person who exercises every day, not giving themselves a break can find the wear and tear and repetitive trauma leads to damage. For the vast majority of us the best form of exercise is something that we enjoy doing for a moderate amount of time, perhaps 20 to 30 minutes on a regular basis.

The people who I see in my practice who are the healthiest are those who find something they are comfortable with that they can fit into a regular schedule. It could be a daily walk or swimming laps in the pool. The key is consistency and a routine.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor