Physical Fitness - Part 1

The 5 Components of Physical Fitness

The 5 components of physical fitness are used in schools, gyms and health clubs to measure your level of physical fitness. Total fitness is defined by how well your body performs in each of 5 categories

• As mentioned before, the five key components of physical fitness refer to:

  • Cardiorespiratory endurance
  • Muscle strength
  • Muscle endurance
  • Flexibility
  • Body composition

  
  

  These 5 components measure your body's ability to use oxygen as fuel, your muscular strength and endurance, the flexibility of your joints and your total body fat.

  Cardiorespiratory Endurance

  Cardiorespiratory endurance refers to the ability of your heart and lungs to work together to fuel your body with oxygen. It incorporates the efficiency of blood flow and how the body is best able to pass on oxygen through the blood during sustained physical activity. 

  Muscle Strength

  Muscle strength refers to the amount of force a muscle can exert, in a single effort against a heavy resistance. 

  Muscle Endurance

  Muscle endurance refers to the ability of a muscle to perform a continuous effort without fatiguing. It includes the ability of a muscle or muscle group to repeat a movement many times or to hold a particular position for an extended period of time. 

  Flexibility

  Flexibility refers to the ability of each joint to express its full range of motion from a flexed to an extended position. 

  Body Composition

  Body composition refers to the amount of body fat you have, versus the amount of lean muscles, bones and organs. There are several tests that can be used to measure body composition.