Health and fitness

Health -  “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (World Health Organisation).

Fitness -general or specific. Ability to meet the demands of the environment.

Healthy, active lifestyle - a lifestyle which contributes positively to physical, mental and social wellbeing, and includes regular exercise and physical activity.

Exercise - a form of physical activity which maintains or improves healthy and/or physical fitness

Performance - how well a task is completed

General Fitness: fit for everyday activities.

For this, you need 4 S’s

• Strength
• Stamina
• Speed
• Suppleness

Also included are:

Cardiovascular endurance - muscles get enough oxygen to work properly

Muscular endurance - muscles don’t get tired too quickly

Good body composition - neither too thin or too fat

Specific Fitness (skill related fitness) = fitness to play sport at a high level.

• Agility - to change direction quickly
  • TEST - Illinois Agility Test
• Balance - so you don’t fall over
  • TEST - Standing Stork test
• Co-ordination - to move accurately and smoothly
  • TEST - Three Ball Juggle
• Power - the ability to undertake strength performances quickly. Power = strength x speed
  • TEST - Standing Long or Sargeant Jump test
• Reactions - to respond quickly
  • TEST - Ruler Drop Test
• Speed - the differential rate at which an individual is able to perform a movement or cover a distance in a period of time
  • TEST - 30 metre sprint

Cardiovascular Fitness – keeping muscles supplied with oxygen

Muscular Fitness – you can push, pull, throw, lift very hard or very quickly.