Best Five Components of Physical Fitness
February 6, 2010 by admin
Filed under General Articles
Physical fitness is defined by the ability of the body in performing tasks with much efficiency and effectiveness while avoiding diseases. Physical fitness is subdivided into two: general fitness and specific fitness. General fitness refers to the entire state of the body which actually focuses on the stationary mode. Specific fitness, on the other hand, refers to agility or the physical capability of the person which mainly deals with mobility.
The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is a government agency that promotes physical activity for all Americans. The said agency has provided a chart that lists the five major components of physical fitness.
The metabolic component is related to the body composition. It means the amount of body fat, bone and muscle in proportion to the human body. There are different methods to measure the body composition. One way is to use callipers in measuring the thickness of body fats in certain areas. Another way is the bioelectrical impedance analysis which uses electrical to give an estimate of the body fats present in the body. Air displacement plethysmography uses water to calculate the density of the human body. It then uses other equations to determine the body fat percentage. The Dual Energy Xray Absorptiometry measures bone content and density, tissue mass, and fat percentage. MRIs and CT scans can also measure body composition.
The morphological component or the cardiorespiratory fitness transfers to the capability of the respiratory system and circulatory system to do their respective jobs. Their actual main job is to supply oxygen to other parts of the body. Exercise can boost the heart’s strength which can help in circulating more blood, therefore, producing more oxygen.
Bone integrity or flexibility is the ability of the bones to move and bend within the limit. Bone is primarily composed of calcium. As calcium is mostly found in milk and other dairy products, the intake of these products, combined with stretching activities like pilates, is highly recommended to boost bone strength thus increasing its flexibility. Bone flexibility is also proven to improve a person’s quality of life.
Muscular endurance is the ability of the muscle to perform a task for a long period of time. It goes hand in hand with stamina and power. Constant exercise can train the body to endure more activities.
Muscle strength is the ability to use force to move or lift an object using the muscles. Strength training is a perfect way to increase one’s strength. Weight training is a popular form of strength training that uses gravity as resistance.
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