Physical Fitness
What is Fitness?
Fitness describes someone’s or something’s ability to perform a certain function with a high degree of success and efficiency.
Specific fitness refers to the ability to perform at peak performance for one or a few specific tasks. We often refer to specific fitness when we are focusing on optimizing performance for a specific event or competition. Elite powerlifters and olympic lifters focus on specific fitness relative to their chosen events.
Physical fitness, usually refers to any activity involving motion or the manipulation of the body. We usually refer to physical fitness when we are talking about exercising or workout programs.
Why should you be concerned with proper Fitness?
Frequent, dedicated physical exercise is an important component in the prevention of some of the diseases of old age such as cancer, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and back pain.
Exercise is important for maintaining proper physical fitness including healthy body composition (fat mass vs. fat-free mass); building and maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and joints; promoting physiological health; reducing surgical risks; and strengthening the immune system.
Physical fitness is often divided into the following categories:
- Agility
- Balance
- Body Composition
- Cardiovascular endurance
- Coordination
- Flexibility
- Muscular strength & endurance
- Speed
What do you need to know about Exercise?
Exercise is the performance of activity to develop or maintain physical fitness and overall health, and/or honing athletic ability or skill. Exercises are generally grouped into three types depending on the overall effect they have on the human body:
- Flexibility exercises improves the range of motion of muscles & joints.
- Aerobic exercises such as walking or running, focus on increasing cardiovascular endurance.
- Anaerobic exercises such as weight training, functional training or sprinting increases short-term muscle strength.
Physical fitness works best when performed for at least 45 minutes, three days per week. Always remember to include at least 1-2 days off per week for recovery purposes. Proper nutrition also goes a long way in maximizing fitness. Drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and protein to insure proper fitness nutrition.
