Page 69 - Sember, Vedrana, and Shawnda A. Morrison. 2018. The Mind-Body Connection. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 69
Physical Fitness
Physical fitness is a general state of health and well-being and ca-
pacity to perform in physical activity, daily activities and sports and
refers to a full range of physiological and psychological qualities. It is
defined as the quality or state of being fit (see https://www.merriam
-webster.com/dictionary/fitness). Physical fitness is set of attrib-
utes associated with the capacity to perform physical activities (Or-
tega, Ruiz, Castillo, & Sjostrom, 2008), which consisted of three
components: muscle strength, endurance and motor skills (Malina
& Katzmarzyk, 2006). Physical fitness could also be thought as an
integrated measure of almost all body functions (cardiorespiratory,
hemato- circulatory, psychoneurological and endocrine-metabolic)
involved in daily physical activity and exercise (Ortega et al., 2008).
The cardiorespiratory function is assessed using maximal oxygen
consumption (VO2max). Principal components of muscle strength
are maximum power (static and dynamic), explosive strength, dur-
ability, power and isokinetic strength. Most appropriate tests for
the assessment of muscle strength are shaking fists, Standing Long
Jump and Bent Arm Hang. Speed is the ability to move the body
or body parts as quickly as possible and agility is a combination
of speed, balance, strength and coordination (Ortega et al., 2008).
It has been shown that physical fitness is strongly correlated with
total adiposity (Ruiz et al., 2006; Ara, Vicente-Rodriguez, Jimenez-
Ramirez et al., 2004; Lee & Arslanian, 2007), abdominal adipos-
ity (Ortega et al., 2007; Hussey, Bell, Bennett, O’Dwyer, & Gorm-
ley, 2007), cardiovascular disease (Hurtig-Wennlof, Ruiz, Harro, &
67
Physical fitness is a general state of health and well-being and ca-
pacity to perform in physical activity, daily activities and sports and
refers to a full range of physiological and psychological qualities. It is
defined as the quality or state of being fit (see https://www.merriam
-webster.com/dictionary/fitness). Physical fitness is set of attrib-
utes associated with the capacity to perform physical activities (Or-
tega, Ruiz, Castillo, & Sjostrom, 2008), which consisted of three
components: muscle strength, endurance and motor skills (Malina
& Katzmarzyk, 2006). Physical fitness could also be thought as an
integrated measure of almost all body functions (cardiorespiratory,
hemato- circulatory, psychoneurological and endocrine-metabolic)
involved in daily physical activity and exercise (Ortega et al., 2008).
The cardiorespiratory function is assessed using maximal oxygen
consumption (VO2max). Principal components of muscle strength
are maximum power (static and dynamic), explosive strength, dur-
ability, power and isokinetic strength. Most appropriate tests for
the assessment of muscle strength are shaking fists, Standing Long
Jump and Bent Arm Hang. Speed is the ability to move the body
or body parts as quickly as possible and agility is a combination
of speed, balance, strength and coordination (Ortega et al., 2008).
It has been shown that physical fitness is strongly correlated with
total adiposity (Ruiz et al., 2006; Ara, Vicente-Rodriguez, Jimenez-
Ramirez et al., 2004; Lee & Arslanian, 2007), abdominal adipos-
ity (Ortega et al., 2007; Hussey, Bell, Bennett, O’Dwyer, & Gorm-
ley, 2007), cardiovascular disease (Hurtig-Wennlof, Ruiz, Harro, &
67
