Final answer:
Isotonic exercises are beneficial for increasing muscle strength, releasing myokines for tissue repair and reducing inflammation, lowering cortisol levels to manage stress, and improving cardiovascular health. These exercises can also help protect against dementia and depression. Exercising in water is particularly good as it reduces joint stress while building muscle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The benefits of isotonic (dynamic) exercises are significant to overall health and well-being. Isotonic exercises are those where the muscle changes length during the contraction, typically involving a repetitive motion such as lifting weights, squats, and push-ups. These exercises support muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility because of isotonic and isometric contractions working together.
One key benefit includes the release of myokines, which are hormones that aid in tissue repair and growth and have anti-inflammatory effects. This plays a pivotal role in reducing the risk of inflammatory diseases and supports overall cardiovascular health. Moreover, isotonic exercises contribute to lower cortisol levels, which helps in managing stress and reducing associated health problems.
Another advantage is improving blood flow and increasing the synthesis of natural euphoriants in the brain, which may render protection from cognitive declines such as dementia and can be as effective as pharmaceutical antidepressants for treating mild-to-moderate depression. Additionally, isotonic exercises enhance the mechanical efficiency of the heart, thus elevating one’s quality of life and potentially increasing life expectancy.
Whether performed on land or in water, isotonic exercises exert beneficial forces and torques on the muscles and joints, aiding in their revival and increased function. Exercising in water, in particular, is also advantageous as it provides buoyancy that places less stress on joints while still allowing for resistance to build muscle strength.