The Components of Fitness
Physical Education: AQA GCSE, topic 3.2.1
The Aspects of Fitness
There are several different parts of fitness. Some of them are listed below:
Agility
- The ability to change direction at speed while keeping control.
Balance
- The maintaining (keeping up) of the centre of mass over the base of support.
- Static balance is balance while standing still.
- Dynamic balance is the keeping up of balance while moving.
Cardiovascular endurance (aerobic power)
- The ability of the heart and lungs to supply oxygen to the working muscles.
Co-ordination
- The ability to use different (two or more) parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently.
Flexibility
- The range of movement possible at a joint.
The Aspects of Fitness 2
There are lots of parts of fitness. Here are some more important aspects:
Muscular endurance (similar to dynamic strength)
- The ability of the muscle or muscle group to contract repeatedly and not tire out.
Reaction time
- The time taken to start a response to a stimulus (event).
Speed
- The maximum rate at which an individual can make a movement or cover a distance in a period of time (speed = distance ÷ time).
Strength
- The ability to overcome resistance. There are different types of strength:
- Maximal strength: the largest force possible in a single contraction.
- Dynamic strength: the ability of the muscle or muscle group to contract repeatedly and not tire out.
- Explosive strength: the combination of strength x speed.
- Static strength: the ability to hold a body part in a static position.
Test yourself on The Components of Fitness
Cardiovascular endurance is the ability of which of the following to supply oxygen to the working muscles?
Which of the following is a type of physical balance?
Which of the following is not a type of physical strength?