He first put forward the boundary between fitness and training. Regarding running, he has a famous saying: "The direct ratio between the amount of long-distance running and the fitness effect stops at a certain point. If you run more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) a week, it is training, not fitness. " It seems that excessive exercise is harmful. Therefore, the result of running for 12 minutes is the heart rate, so it is necessary to control the amount of exercise within the fitness range to prevent excessive exercise. Within the scope of fitness, 12 minute running also sets a level for measuring cardiopulmonary function. For example, a 60-year-old man only ran 1500 meters in/2 minutes, indicating that his cardiopulmonary function is poor and he should increase his exercise. If you can run more than1630m, your cardiopulmonary function will reach the passing standard. If he can run more than 2480 meters, it means that his heart and lung function is very good.
Cooper first put forward the important concept of aerobic exercise. Due to the lack of exercise experience and knowledge, many people still don't know what aerobic exercise is and what anaerobic exercise is. They think that only walking is aerobic exercise and running is anaerobic exercise. In fact, aerobic exercise is a large area, and intense competitions are not all anaerobic exercise, but many are aerobic exercise. Some exercises can't provide enough oxygen because of their short exercise time and high intensity, which leads to a large accumulation of lactic acid in the body. At this time, the human body is in a state of hypoxia, which is called anaerobic exercise. For example, the events below 400 meters in track events belong to anaerobic exercise. During exercise, oxygen can be fully supplied, and the body is basically in a state of no hypoxia. Such exercise is called aerobic exercise. Most sports are aerobic. Therefore, fitness and training can not be distinguished by aerobic and anaerobic.
Cooper is an epoch-making figure. In the 1950s and 1960s in America, cardiovascular diseases seriously threatened people's health. His 12 minute running and aerobic exercise theory has enabled millions of Americans to join the torrent of running and fitness. Since then, Cooper's name has become a household name in the United States. Cooper is not only a sports scientist, but also an expert in sports medicine. His theory is that as long as the intensity and amount of exercise are appropriate, patients with cardiovascular diseases can and should be physically active after their condition is stable. He often diagnosed patients and made exercise prescriptions or rehabilitation travel plans, which initiated the implementation of sports therapy for rich diseases.