Physical fitness refers to a condition of total health and well being and, more importantly, the capacity to do regular parts of everyday tasks, jobs and sports. This definition of fitness has changed a lot over the years as our culture becomes more active and the need for healthy lifestyles becomes evident. Physical fitness is usually achieved through regular physical activity, proper nutrition and enough rest. Some experts even define it as the sum total of all factors that can affect your health in one way or another.
When talking about fitness, it is important to talk not only about your current fitness level but also about your future fitness level. If you are not currently in good shape, then there is no point in trying to improve your fitness level right now. However, if you are in good shape but want to increase your fitness levels for a particular purpose like participating in a particular sport or following a particular diet, then you should start gradually. In this case, your fitness goal should be one that you can maintain long-term.
Physical fitness includes not just the capacity to do basic exercises like sit-ups, push-ups and jumping jacks but also includes cardiovascular exercise such as running, swimming, cycling and other sports like basketball, baseball and football. In general, all physical activities that build strength and stamina are considered to be fitness-building activities. Some of these are aerobic (that is, they cause the heart and lungs to use energy) and strength training. Strength building is different from physical fitness because in strength building, you use the whole body and are not focusing on specific parts of the body, which are what aerobic exercise does.
Physical fitness also includes the ability to move properly. It does not matter how perfectly you follow an exercise routine if you are not able to move properly. This problem is commonly seen in older adults and thus many fitness centers have started providing classes specifically designed for the older adult population. These fitness programs focus on stretching, strength training and balance training so that the older adult does not get easily injured. A physical education instructor is also part of these programs to ensure that the participants do not do any damage to themselves by not paying attention to how their body is moving.
There are also three more common tests used to determine fitness level – the reading of the electrocardiogram (ECG), the reading of the blood pressure and the assessment of the muscular endurance. The ECG measures the electrical impulses occurring in the body. The blood pressure measures the blood flow throughout the body and the muscular endurance involve the test of the strength of the muscles. These tests can be done only after a series of evaluation have been done and the results are usually conclusive and can be read out loud by the doctor. However, some of these tests may not give exact readings and you would have to go on with the evaluations until you find out the average of all the results. But it is important to know that if one test is not giving you the average result, then you should go back to your physician and talk to him about changing your workout routine or performing another more advanced evaluation.
Another way of determining the level of fitness is through the evaluation of the muscles. This is often done by the fitness experts as they look into the muscles of the body and their flexibility and contraction. Sometimes the physical activity done will make some contractions and sometimes you will feel resistance as the muscles are being stretched. If you feel resistance, then this means that your workout is not intense enough and you need to increase the intensity of the exercise so that your muscles can perform well.
