branchbuzzer
Undiagnosed
I won't argue that it's okay exercise. But a lot of folks here I think overstate the benefit. E.g., cheaper than a gym membership, etc.
I think you'd need to split a lot of wood by hand - a couple cords a week year-round maybe - for that to be true. Busting up 4-5 cords over a couple weeks - and remaining more or less dormant for the remaining 4 dozen weeks of the year is an effective strategy for getting a gut.
Of course that depends on how good of shape you're in as to how hard it is, right? Certainly not going to be a major part of a year round exercise program, unless one is up the ying-yang-wazoo in firewood.
What to one person is a nice way to pass the time and loosen up can be purgatory to the next guy. I guess it gets easier the more one does it, but I kind of like the famous quote: "It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster."