Acknowledgments

The themes of the chapters in the book are entirely the authors' ideas. Thanks to the authors for their great contributions.

I would also like to thank IntechOpen for cooperation during this book project.

**1**

crowded cities.

**Chapter 1**

**1. Introduction**

parks [1].

Introductory Chapter: Outdoor

Recreation - Physiological and

Psychological Effects on Health

The interest for creating this book started with a desire to communicate how valuable it is for a healthy live to be physically active outdoor in the nature or in parks. Outdoor recreation activities are adapted for pleasure, exercise, challenge, friendship, and a natural opening to become a part of the nature or be a user of public parks. Everyone can participate in outdoor recreation activities; it is not

Outdoor recreation can be defined as any leisure time activity which is being conducted outdoor in which individuals engage themselves [1]. The wide range of activities are divided into two classifications: resource-based and user-oriented recreation [1]. The resource-based recreation is known to be performed in natural settings, while user-oriented recreation can be presented anywhere such as in

Traditional examples of outdoor activities are camping, canoeing, caving, climbing, cycling, fishing, hiking, horse riding, hunting, mountaineering, kayaking, rafting, rock running, sailing, skiing, sky diving, and surfing. But outdoor recreation is in continuous development and now also includes activities

People have been fishing and hunting since the start of human history. Today, some of the activities which were earlier executed for surviving are executed as a hobby or leisure activity, especially in the part of the world in which everything is industrialized and modernized. In these wealthy parts of the world, outdoor recreation is something people do in weekends or on holiday leaves. It is well documented in the literature that outdoor recreation activities, among several other factors, are

Urban planning is a process for managing the physical development of cities. Even small towns are built according to a plan that defines the layout and location of city streets, squares, quarters, downtown areas, business districts, green areas, and residential areas. Central park in New York (USA), the Promenade des Anglais in Nice (France) and Hyde park in London (UK) are famous examples. It is a challenge to allocate available space in the cities for recreational areas, a demanding task for the city planners. Efficient utilization of limited areas is not easy in already over-

There are many health benefits with executing outdoor recreation activities. If you are lucky and live in a country/area in which the level of air pollution is low you get fresh air; moreover, it gives you a break from your ordinary daily life. Outdoor recreation strengthens the physical and mental health and increases the quality of life [2, 3]. A study from year 2000 shows that 90 percent of the respondents who

as canyoning, coasteering, fastpacking, and plogging, to mention some.

*Hilde Dorthea Grindvik Nielsen*

necessary to be a sports athlete to participate.

important for a healthy life [2, 3].

#### **Chapter 1**

## Introductory Chapter: Outdoor Recreation - Physiological and Psychological Effects on Health

*Hilde Dorthea Grindvik Nielsen*

#### **1. Introduction**

The interest for creating this book started with a desire to communicate how valuable it is for a healthy live to be physically active outdoor in the nature or in parks. Outdoor recreation activities are adapted for pleasure, exercise, challenge, friendship, and a natural opening to become a part of the nature or be a user of public parks. Everyone can participate in outdoor recreation activities; it is not necessary to be a sports athlete to participate.

Outdoor recreation can be defined as any leisure time activity which is being conducted outdoor in which individuals engage themselves [1]. The wide range of activities are divided into two classifications: resource-based and user-oriented recreation [1]. The resource-based recreation is known to be performed in natural settings, while user-oriented recreation can be presented anywhere such as in parks [1].

Traditional examples of outdoor activities are camping, canoeing, caving, climbing, cycling, fishing, hiking, horse riding, hunting, mountaineering, kayaking, rafting, rock running, sailing, skiing, sky diving, and surfing. But outdoor recreation is in continuous development and now also includes activities as canyoning, coasteering, fastpacking, and plogging, to mention some.

People have been fishing and hunting since the start of human history. Today, some of the activities which were earlier executed for surviving are executed as a hobby or leisure activity, especially in the part of the world in which everything is industrialized and modernized. In these wealthy parts of the world, outdoor recreation is something people do in weekends or on holiday leaves. It is well documented in the literature that outdoor recreation activities, among several other factors, are important for a healthy life [2, 3].

Urban planning is a process for managing the physical development of cities. Even small towns are built according to a plan that defines the layout and location of city streets, squares, quarters, downtown areas, business districts, green areas, and residential areas. Central park in New York (USA), the Promenade des Anglais in Nice (France) and Hyde park in London (UK) are famous examples. It is a challenge to allocate available space in the cities for recreational areas, a demanding task for the city planners. Efficient utilization of limited areas is not easy in already overcrowded cities.

There are many health benefits with executing outdoor recreation activities. If you are lucky and live in a country/area in which the level of air pollution is low you get fresh air; moreover, it gives you a break from your ordinary daily life. Outdoor recreation strengthens the physical and mental health and increases the quality of life [2, 3]. A study from year 2000 shows that 90 percent of the respondents who

said they participate in regular outdoor recreation were more satisfied with their overall lives compared to the 60 percent who reported non-outdoor activities [4].

In countries where mountains and forests are easily accessible and not crowded with inhabitants and buildings, *e.g.* Norway, outdoor recreation has had a significant growth during the Covid-19 pandemic. Luckily, Norway, with its 5 million inhabitants, has large areas for executing outdoor recreation. The increasing interest for outdoor recreation activities does not, of course, involve everyone. In fact, those who are already physically active has a lower threshold to start with outdoor recreation activities in addition to the "ordinary" physical activities. Still, the interest for outdoor recreation has reached more people than before.

The climate problem can be considered the largest challenge for humanity as of today. Weather forecasts can in many places regularly deliver detailed information on levels of ozone, air pollutants, pollen, and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, along with warnings when too high or too low temperatures levels may become dangerous to health. This will in the future influence our behavior for outdoor recreation/outdoor physical activity [5] even more than today. More rainy days, too hot weather or too much ice and snow will limit people's habits for being physical active outdoor. Good planning and right facilitation of the outdoor activities are essential for a good and memorable outdoor experience and for the continued interest for such activities in the general population.

#### **Acknowledgements**

The themes of the chapters in the book are entirely the authors' ideas. Thanks to the authors for their great contributions.

I would also like to thank IntechOpen for cooperation during this book project.

#### **Author details**

Hilde Dorthea Grindvik Nielsen The Research Council of Norway, Norway

\*Address all correspondence to: hildegnielsen@outlook.com

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

**3**

*Introductory Chapter: Outdoor Recreation - Physiological and Psychological Effects on Health*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93887*

[1] Definition Of Outdoor Recreation Physical Education Essay https:// www.ukessays.com/essays/physicaleducation/definition-of-outdoorrecreation-physical-education-essay.

php?vref=1.2018.

**References**

2019;59(5):868-79.

2010. p. 436-46.

s41562-017-0097.

[2] Manferdelli G, La Torre A, Codella R. Outdoor physical activity bears multiple benefits to health and society. J Sports Med and Phys fitness.

[3] Gobster PB, DM. Healthy Outdoor Recreation: An Integrated Approach to Linking Physical Activity with Wellness Goals In: Payne LA, B; Godbey, G., editor. Leisure, Health, and Wellness: Making the Connections State College, Pennsylvania Venture Publishing, Inc.;

[4] Starch R. Outdoor recreation in America 2000: Addressing key societal concerns. Washington, D.C.; 2000.

[5] Obradovich, N., Fowler, J. Climate change may alter human physical activity patterns. Nat Hum Behav 1, 0097 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/

*Introductory Chapter: Outdoor Recreation - Physiological and Psychological Effects on Health DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93887*

#### **References**

[1] Definition Of Outdoor Recreation Physical Education Essay https:// www.ukessays.com/essays/physicaleducation/definition-of-outdoorrecreation-physical-education-essay. php?vref=1.2018.

[2] Manferdelli G, La Torre A, Codella R. Outdoor physical activity bears multiple benefits to health and society. J Sports Med and Phys fitness. 2019;59(5):868-79.

[3] Gobster PB, DM. Healthy Outdoor Recreation: An Integrated Approach to Linking Physical Activity with Wellness Goals In: Payne LA, B; Godbey, G., editor. Leisure, Health, and Wellness: Making the Connections State College, Pennsylvania Venture Publishing, Inc.; 2010. p. 436-46.

[4] Starch R. Outdoor recreation in America 2000: Addressing key societal concerns. Washington, D.C.; 2000.

[5] Obradovich, N., Fowler, J. Climate change may alter human physical activity patterns. Nat Hum Behav 1, 0097 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ s41562-017-0097.

**5**

**Chapter 2**

**Abstract**

socially important diseases.

unit time—W).

are defined as adaptive.

functional systems, socially important diseases

Outdoor Recreation: Physiological

Effects and Prevention of Socially

Physical activity improves the condition of the cardiovascular system, respiration, muscles, and metabolism and increases physical working capacity. This review of physiological effects and adaptation mechanisms of the outdoor recreation and its health benefits provides accessible information from a scientific point of view and research practice. Increased frequency of many socially important diseases such as diabetes mellitus type 2, metabolic syndrome and obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and others is associated with dramatically decreased physical activity in the last decades. Outdoor recreation for children, adolescents, adults, and older population is important for the prevention of these conditions. In this chapter, the authors describe in detail the physiological effects of different kinds of outdoor recreation physical activity with different intensities (such as walking, cycling, skiing, rowing, climbing, practicing some outdoor sports, etc.) and assess their benefits in the prevention of

**Keywords:** outdoor recreation, adaptation, working capacity, physical activity,

**1. Physiological adaptation to outdoor recreation physical activity**

that vary in structure, volume, and intensity. The structure is determined by whether the muscles perform static or dynamic work, the volume depends on the work (measured in kgm or J), and the intensity relates to the power (work done per

Outdoor recreation physical activity includes a wide range of physical exercises

The changes that occur in the body (in muscles, cardiovascular, respiratory, and endocrine systems, blood, etc.) as a result of recreational physical exercises can be momentary or permanent. The momentary ones provide the immediate needs of the body during the performance of the exercise itself, and the permanent ones occur mostly as a result of systematic practice of recreational physical activity and

The latter vary significantly depending on the type of recreational activity, as a result of which they occur and affect almost all functional systems of the body, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, nervous, and blood systems, with significant changes occurring in both the muscles and the ability to adjust the

*Nikolay Boyadjiev, Katerina Nikolova Georgieva* 

Important Diseases

*and Penka Angelova Angelova Hristova*

#### **Chapter 2**
