Components of Health-Related Fitness

Fitness

Is defined as a condition in which an individual has been enough energy to avoid fatigue and enjoy life. Analyse your day. Do you have lots of energy, or do you get tired easily?

Physical fitness

Is divided into four health- and six skill-related components.

Skill-related fitness

Enhances one's performance in athletic or sports events.

Health-related fitness

Is the ability to become and stay physical healthy.

Health Components

Cardiorespiratory fitness, Muscular strength and endurance, Flexibility, body composition

Cardiovascular fitness

Is the ability of the heart ( cardio ) and circulatory system ( vascular ) to supply oxygen to muscles for an extended period of time. Cardiovascular is also called cardiorespiratory ( lungs ) fitness. Usually the mile run or some type of continuous fitness activity ( 12 mile run, cycling, step-test, etc. ) is used to assess cardiovascular fitness.

Muscular strength and endurance

Is the muscle's ability to produce effort or perform work.

Muscular endurance

Refers to the ability of the muscle to work over extended period of time without fatigue. Performing push-ups and sit-ups or crunches for one minute is commonly used in fitness testing of muscular endurance.

Muscular strength

Refers to the maximum amount of force a muscle can exert against an opposing force. Fitness testing usually consists of a one-time maximum lift using weights ( bench press, leg press, etc. ).

Flexibility

Is the ability to move a body part through a full range of motion at a joint ( ROM ). The sit-and-reach is commonly used to determine flexibility.

Body composition

Is the ratio of body fat to learn body mass ( including water, bone, muscle, and connective tissue ). Having too much fat tissue is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and arthritis.

Components of Health-Related Fitness Activity

The purpose of this activity about what happens to your heart rate when you perform cardiovascular, muscular endurance, muscular strength, and flexibility exercises. Use your heart rate monitor, and record your heart rate before the activity, two to three times during the activity ( record the average ), and immediately after the activity. Between each exercise, walk slowly and allow your heart to go below 125 if possible. If your heart rate is over 125 at the end of an exercise, record how long it takes to get below 125. If after three minutes your heart rate has not returned to below 125, go ahead with the next activity.

Skill Components

Agility, Balance, power, Speed, Coordination and Reaction Time

Skill-or performance-related fitness

Involves skills that will enhance one's performance in athletic or sports events.

Agility

Is the ability to change and control the direction and position of the body while maintaining a constant, rapid motion. For example, changing directions to hit a tennis ball.

Balance

Is the ability to control or stabilise the body when a person is standing still or moving. For example, in-line skating.

Coordination

Is the ability to use the senses together with body parts during movement. For example, dribbling a basketball. Using hands and eyes together is called hand-eye coordination.

Speed

Is the ability to move your body or parts of your body swiftly. Many sports rely on speed to gain advantage over your opponents. For example, a basketball player making a fast break to perform a layup, a tennis player moving forward to get to a drop shot, a football player out running the defence to receive a pass.

Power

Is the ability to move the body parts swiftly while applying the maximum force of the muscles. Power is a combination of both speed and muscular strength. For example, fullbacks in football muscling their way through other players and speeding up to the net and lifting their bodies high into the air.

Reaction Time

Is the ability to reach or respond quickly to what you hear, see, or feel. For example, an athlete quickly coming off the blocks early in a swimming or track relay, or stealing a base in baseball.

Six Components of Skill-Related Fitness Activity

The purpose of this activity is to help you gain an understanding of what happens to your heart rate when you perform activities to develop the six components of skill-related fitness. Perform each activity as fast and as many times as you can for 30 seconds. Use your heart monitor, and record your heart rate before and immediately after the activity. Also, make a note if you were winded at the end of an activity. Between each exercise, walk slowly and allow your heart rate to go below 125 if possible. If your rate is over 125 at the end of an exercise, record how long it takes to get below 125.