Over the last decade studies have shown that physical exercise plays an important role in maintaining an individual's psycho-physical balance. In particular, it has been demonstrated that prolonged regular physical activity (now defined in scientific publications as chronic physical activity) helps to significantly reduce the incidence of neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases, which are often associated with ageing, while at the same time bolstering the immune system.

Promoting physical activity therefore helps preventing today's major health challenges, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiorespiratory diseases, obesity, osteoporosis, arthritis, and cancer, thus leading to a reduction in healthcare costs and freeing up resources for future generations.

The volume will be an essential reading for all health professionals and for residents in medicine and in health and physical exercise.

Autorentext

Prof. Vilberto Stocchi is currently Full Professor of Biochemistry and Dean of the Faculty of Health and Physical Exercise at the University of Urbino. Furthermore Prof. Stocchi is the Director of the Center for the Study of Protein Biochemistry at the University of Urbino and of Institute of Research on Physical Activity.

Currently he is involved in the Project CIPE - Improvement of the quality of the life of the elderly, of the Marche Region, through the use of methodologies and innovative equipments with particular reference to the physical activity; he is also working for the European Project 2004: European year of the Education through the Sport Program "Education and sport: values without frontiers ".

The research activity of the Prof. Stocchi is documented by more then 200 papers published on international scientific reviews and by as many Conference participation.

Inhalt
Metabolic Modifications and Physical Exercise.- Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Skeletal Muscle Plasticity.- Physical Inactivity is the Main Cause of the Metabolic Syndrome.- Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Physical Exercise.- Exercise-Induced Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Skeletal Muscle.- Genetic Vs. Acquired Fitness: Cardiomyocyte Adaptations.- Molecular Modifications Induced by Physical Exercise: A Significant Role in Disease Prevention.- Physical Exercise and Oxidative Stress.- The Contribution of Reactive Oxygen Species in Sarcopenia and Muscle Aging.- Mitochondrial Alteration in Aging and Diseases.- Mitochondria: The Dark Side.- Mitochondrial Pathogenesis of Myopathies Due to Collagen VI Mutations.- Mitochondria in Cell Life and Death.- Nutrition, Physical Exercise and Obesity.- Evaluation of Nutritional State in Individuals that Practice Fitness.- Physical Exercise for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity.- Physical Exercise - Health and Wellness: Sociological and Psychological Aspects.- Techniques for Assessing the Quality of Life with a Particular Emphasis on Physical Exercise.- Effects of Physical Exercise on the Quality of Life of Individuals with Diabetes and Obesity.- A Longitudinal Investigation of Physical Activity and Health Behaviors in Italian University Students.