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NCHPAD - Building Healthy Inclusive Communities

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Fitness Definitions


Physical fitness traits fall into two categories: performance-related and health-related fitness.

Performance-related fitness covers traits that would be the concern of a coach. Developing speed; power; and agility improves the athlete's capacity to perform and compete. These are of less concern to us here. Health-related fitness covers five components which contribute to our overall physical well-being, ability to conduct daily activities, and resistance to disease. These are of great concern. They are:

  • Aerobic Capacity [or cardiorespiratory endurance];
  • Body Composition [or body fatness];
  • Flexibility;
  • Muscular Strength;
  • and Muscular Endurance.

These are listed in Table 1.

Aerobic capacity [AC] is felt to be the most important component and refers to the ability of the heart [cardio] and lungs [respiratory] to provide continuous sufficient blood flow to working muscles. Research has shown that high levels of this component reduce the risk of many diseases. Also, children and adults with developmental disabilities have consistently demonstrated lower levels of AC than the general population.

Body composition refers to the amount of fat stored in the body, relative to lean muscle mass. Excessive fat found in overweight children with developmental disabilities makes movement more difficult and contributes to hypertension.

Flexibility is defined as the ability of joints to move through their full range of motion. While swimmers may require more flexibility in their shoulder joints [performance-related], flexibility in the hips and lower back has been identified as a critical component in avoiding low back pain - a major health-related problem.

Muscular Strength is the component which defines the ability of a muscle group to do work. It is measured as the maximum amount of force the muscle can exert [or weight lifted]. A certain amount of strength is required for the performance of daily activities and to handle emergencies.

Muscular Endurance follows muscular strength and refers to the amount of work muscles can do over time. Muscular endurance in the legs, then, is required to make demands on the cardiorespiratory system. Strength and endurance in the abdominal muscles is essential for good posture and, again, avoidance of lower back problems.


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