Physical fitness can be simply defined as a general state of good physical health. Despite a certain age, it can be described as a condition that essentially helps a person look or feel better, both mentally and physically. In fact, in its simplest meaning, it is very similar to that of fine-tuning or an engine. Just as fine-tuning helps an engine function properly, good physical fitness helps the human body function well. Consequently, it is very important for a human body to remain physically fit.
A healthy and physically fit body functions as it should. It helps in maintaining muscle strength, body structure and overall functioning of various parts of the body. It also helps with weight control and even contributes to healthy joints and bones. A body without physical fitness can simply be compared to a machine that is kept inactive. Just as immobility leads to rusting of the machine, the same rule applies to the human body. If we look at the current scenario today, the Japanese are considered to be the most physically fit people in the world. From an early age, children in Japan are trained in physical fitness and the result is absolutely fabulous. So, if you are finding it hard to get off the couch by now, then perhaps this is an important signal for you to look into the importance of physical fitness and look for different ways to improve it.
For many, physical fitness revolves primarily around exercising regularly, but there are many other components of physical fitness that you should pay attention to. While exercise is an extremely important component of fitness, nutrition and environment are other elements that also play an important role. Apart from all these factors, there are some important components of physical fitness that are mainly used in gyms nowadays to measure the fitness of a body such as:
Cardiovascular Endurance – It is the ability of the heart and lungs to work simultaneously and provide the body with much needed oxygen and fuel during sustained exertion.
Muscle strength – It is the amount of force a muscle can produce. The push-up test is one of the most common tests used to examine muscle strength.
Muscular Endurance – It is generally defined as the ability of muscles to perform a task continuously without tiring. Cycling and elliptical machines are some exercises that can be very effective for measuring muscular endurance.
Flexibility – It is the ability to move the joints or a group of joints through a normal range of motion. The fact is, the more flexible a body is, the more Mental Fitness he or she can enjoy. The sit and reach test is most commonly used to test flexibility.
Body Composition – It can be defined as the percentage of body fat a person has as opposed to their total body mass. This can be easily calculated by underwater weighing or bioelectrical impedance.
These five major components of physical fitness actually represent how healthy and fit the body is as a whole. So, when a person goes through different batteries of tests, it gives them information about the specific areas that they may need to work on. Therefore, it is always advisable to take care of each of the above components of fitness, as this can have a positive impact on body composition and lead to additional body fat loss and a great, physically fit body.
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