Aerobic and Muscular Fitness

Fitness

• Is the capacity to do work without becoming exhausted.
• It is the combination of strength, flexibility and endurance.
• The two types of fitness that are important in exercise are aerobic and muscular fitness.

Aerobic Fitness

• This is the capacity to take in, transport and use oxygen without tiring.
• Good aerobic fitness is to be able to do this for longer than 12 minutes.
• The respiratory and cardiovascular systems are used during aerobic fitness.
• The function of respiration is to get oxygen from the air to our body cells. The O2 then combines with chemicals from food to release energy (oxygen uptake).
• Examples of aerobic fitness are swimming, running, walking and cycling.

Muscular Fitness

• Muscular fitness includes:
  • Maximum strength (the greatest force a muscle can exert in a single contraction, e.g. holding a heavy weight)
  • Dynamic strength (ability for a muscle to contract at speed whist overcoming resistance, e.g. sprinting or cycling)
  • Flexibility (the range of movement possible by the whole body, or part of the body, at a single point e.g. touching toes)
  • Mobility (ability to move with speed, balance and endurance, e.g. )
  • Endurance/stamina (ability to exert power for an extended period without tiring, e.g. cross country running)
• Energy for muscular fitness comes from either glycogen that has been…