Measuring Fitness and Health

Ch 5

Basic Questions:

What is fitness?

What is health?

What is the connection?

How are they assessed?

Definitions:

• Definition of Fitness: – “The ability to carry out daily tasks with

vigor and alertness, without undue fatigue, and with ample energy to enjoy leisure time pursuits and to meet unforeseen emergencies.”

Clarke, H.H. (Ed.). (1971) Basic understanding of physical fitness. Physical Fitness Research Digest. Washington, DC: President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sport.

Definitions:

• Definition of Health:

– “A State of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

World Health Organization, 1948

• What is the connection between the two?– Physiological systems are improved through

activity.– Improved capacity diminishes likelihood of

disease.– Physical wellness improves other dimensions of

wellness.

Dimensions of Wellness

• So physical fitness is associated with physical health.

More Questions?

• What factors do we measure?

• How do we evaluate the measurements

• Are our measurements valid?

Evaluating Physical Fitness

• Initial fitness tests were geared toward motor fitness• Motor Fitness: abilities/capacities without health

implications*– muscular strength*– muscular endurance– cardiorespiratory power*– muscular power*– agility & speed*

## Note: some motor fitness components are performance fitness components

• Health-Related Physical Fitness: emphasis on relationship between health and physical activity

Health Related Physical Fitness

• Test selection criteria:– Test should distinguish between severely limited

functional capacity (very low fitness) to high functional capacity (very high fitness)

– Test should measure capacities that can be improved by regular physical activity

– Test should accurately reflect an individual’s fitness status and changes in fitness status (validity?)

Health Related Physical Fitness

Health Related Fitness

Components:– cardiorespiratory capacity (VO2max)

• Physiological capacity to do work

• Measured (or predicted) compared against norms, criteria

• Examples:– Time for distance (mile run, Rockport)

– Distance for time (12 min run / walk – Cooper)

– Paced run (PACER)

– Incremental treadmill run (Bruce / Balke)

.

Health Related Fitness

Components:– muscular flexibility

• Range of Motion – ROM about a joint

• Soft tissue limitations to mobility

• Examples:– Sit and reach

– Back saver sit and reach

– Trunk rotation

– Shoulder stretch

Health Related Fitness

Components:– muscular strength (1 RM)

• maximum effort achievable only one time

• Isolated - single muscle group/ joint

• Dynamic – combination/coordination of muscles

• Isometric – no movement

• Examples:– only one pull up or push up

– max bench press, squat, etc.

– hand grip dynamometer

Health Related Fitness

Components:– muscular endurance

• sub maximal, repeatable effort

• isolated muscle group or dynamic action

• max # of reps

• **reps until time limit = measure of power, not endurance

• Examples:

– pull ups (when more than one is achievable)

– sit ups (“ “)

– weight lifts – i.e. bench press, leg press to failure

Health Related Fitness

Components:– body composition

• fat component vs. not-fat component of the body

• essential vs. nonessential fat

– Healthy = 12-15% fat for men

– Healthy = 18-24% fat for women

Health Related Fitness

• Examples of Estimation :

– Hydrostatic weighing – density comparison

– Skin fold calipers – sum of thicknesses

– Bod Pod - plethysmography

– BIA – bioelectric impedance

– BMI – anthropometric (wt./ht. squared)

– DEXA – x-ray determines density-fat vs. lean

Additional Physical Measures

• Performance Fitness

• Sport or job related

• Maximum capacity

Performance Fitness

• Learning component to many measures

• Neural measurement too

• Technique and skill component

Performance Fitness

• Performance fitness - fitness for athletes• Comprised of health-related fitness

components plus additional:– speed – all out or quickness / acceleration

– power (force applied during short time)

– agility – ability to quickly change directions

– hand-eye / foot-eye coordination

– reaction-time

– neuromuscular coordination

Balance

• Static Balance – maintaining equilibrium– still position

– small base of support

– correction strategies

• Dynamic Balance – maintaining equilibrium– during movement

– correction strategies

What Fitness Test Is Used In California?

Fitnessgram

• Developed by the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research

• Uses criterion-referenced standards for evaluation• Utilizes a computerized reporting system• Recommended and alternative tests of components• Develops affective, cognitive, and behavioral

components to stimulate regular activity• ActivityGram – assessment of activity patterns

Fitnessgram

• Components

• Objective

• Equipment

• Scoring

• Standards

• Alternative Tests

Aging and Adult Fitness

Physically fit = quantity of life and quality of life

Age-related decline in physical fitness?

Age-related decline in physical performance?

Aging and Adult Fitness

Functional Adult Fitness

1. Physically Dependent – need full time help

2. Physically Frail – basic needs not all ADLs

3. Physically Independent – independent but sedentary

4. Physically Fit – exercise regularly

5. Physically Elite – train and compete

Aging and Adult Fitness

• Testing focuses on functional capacity– Aerobic Function – METs

– Body Composition

– Muscular• Strength

• Endurance

• Flexibility

– **Balance / Coordination / Reaction Time***

Questions?

End Chapter 5