7 1.7 Components of Physical Fitness
Undoubtedly, there is a need to reduce physical activity and health disparities, and improve adherence to physical activity recommendations within the United States population. One strategy to improve adherence to the aforementioned physical activity guidelines is to ensure individuals are focusing upon a wide variety of mechanisms which enhance overall physical fitness, including the health-related and performance-related components.
Physical fitness components include: cardiorespiratory endurance, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility.Physical fitness has been previously defined as “a specific set of attributes possessed by an individual, which allows her/him to perform physical activity with energy, and in the absence of undue fatigue.” While physical fitness encompasses a wide range of physical attributes (components), five health-related components are primarily discussed in the physical activity literature. These physical fitness components gauge approximations of an individual’s health status, and include: cardiorespiratory endurance, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility (American College of Sports Medicine, 2013).
Cardiorespiratory (Aerobic) Endurance: The ability to perform prolonged, dynamic exercise using large muscle groups at a moderate-to-high-intensity level.
Body Composition: The proportion of fat and fat-free mass (muscle, bone, and water) in the body.
Muscular Strength: The amount of force a muscle can produce in a single maximum effort.
Muscular Endurance: The ability to resist fatigue and sustain: (1) a given level of muscle tension, or (2) repeated muscle contractions against resistance for a given time period.
Flexibility: The ability to move the joints through their full range of motion.
Comprehension check:
How do the physical activity guidelines outlined in Chapter 1 impact the five health-related components of physical fitness?
Furthermore, an individual’s physical fitness includes performance-related components. These six components measure specific skill-sets, and include: (1) agility, (2) coordination, (3) balance, (4) power, (5) reaction time, and (6) speed (American College of Sports Medicine, 2013).
Furthermore, an individual’s physical fitness includes performance-related components. These six components measure specific skill-sets, and include:
- agility,
- coordination,
- balance,
- power,
- reaction time,
- and speed (American College of Sports Medicine, 2013).
Works Cited
American College of Sports Medicine. (2013). ACSM’s guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.