FITNESS & CONDITIONING VOCABULARY TERMS
Abduction
Extending sideways away from the center of the body.
Adduction
Pulling of an appendage inward from the side towards the center of the body.
Aerobic Exercise
An ongoing physical activity that raises your breathing and heart rates; steady activity in which the heart can supply all the oxygen the muscles need.
Agility
The ability to change the position and control the movement of the whole body.
Anaerobic Exercise
Intense physical activity that lasts for a few seconds to a few minutes; physical activity done in short, fast bursts in which the heart cannot supply oxygen as fast as muscles use it.
Anterior
Front
Balance
The ability to keep an upright posture while either standing still or moving.
Body Composition or Fatness
A measure of how much body fat a person has, as compared to muscle and bone; the makeup of the body tissues, including muscle, bone, body fat, and all other body tissues.
Body Image
The way one sees oneself physically.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Provides and indication of the appropriateness of your weight relative to your height.
Cardiovascular Fitness
The ability of the heart, blood vessels, and respiratory system to supply oxygen and nutrients to the muscles during exercise.
Carotid ArteryThe artery in the neck most commonly used to take a pulse.
Cholesterol
A waxy, fat-like substance found in animal tissue
Cool-Down
A 10- to 15-minute period of mild exercise following vigorous exercise that allows the body and heart rate to return to normal.
Coordination
The integration of eye, hand, and foot movements.
Criterion-Referenced Tests
Physical fitness tests in which specific standards are used to judge fitness levels.
Curl-up TestPhysical fitness test that measures abdominal strength and endurance. Deltoids
A muscle that attaches scapula, clavicle and humerus; used to move the humerus.
Depression
Move downward or dropping.
Desire
The attitude to want to achieve something.
Diabetes
The body's inability to regulate sugar metabolism
Diaphragm
A large muscle in the upper abdomen.
Elevation
Move upward or lifting.
EndorphinsChemicals that block pain messages from reaching brain cells and produce feelings of pleasure.
ExerciseAny physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive bodily movement done to improve or maintain one or more of the components of health-related fitness; something you do.
Extension
Straightening
Flexed Arm HangPhysical fitness test that measures upper body strength and endurance. Flexibility
The range of possible movement at various joints.
Flexion
Bending
Goal Setting
Process designed to motivate people to make changes in their lifestyle and increase self-improvement.
Health-Related Fitness
Components of physical fitness that contribute to the operation of the systems of the body.
Health-Related Fitness Standards
Satisfactory or healthy levels of flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, and body composition.
Health Risk Factors
Those factors associated with disease, disability, and premature death. Anything that increases a person's chance of a health problem occurring.
HeartbeatThe sound of the valves in your heart closing as they push blood from one chamber to the next.
Heart RateThe number of times the heart beats per minute (BPM).
Heart Rate Monitor (HRM)A HRM detects the electronic signal of your heart beat and automatically computes the heart rate in BPM.
Heat Cramps
A heat-related problem in which certain muscles contract involuntarily and cause pain.
Heat Exhaustion
A condition characterized by profuse sweating, dizziness, and extreme weakness.
Heat Stroke
A medical emergency characterized by hot, dry skin and a rising body temperature.
Hyperthermia
An increase in body temperature with a reduction of body fluids.
Hypokinetic Conditions
Health problems caused partly by lack of physical activity.
Hypothermia
An excessive decline in body temperature.
Inactivity
The lack of physical activity and exercise.
Inferior
Below
Isokinetic Exercise
Exercise performed with machines that ensure muscles contract at a constant rate; an exercise for muscle fitness that regulates the resistance and/or speed or movement through a full range of joint movement.
Isometric Exercise
Exercise in which muscles contract but very little body movement occurs; an exercise that involves isometric contractions in which body parts do not move because of an equal force in the opposite direction; the length of the muscle remains constant under tension.
Isotonic Exercise
Exercise that involves contracting and relaxing muscles through the full range of their joint's motion; an exercise that involves isotonic contractions that pulls on the bones and produces movement of body parts.
Lateral
Side
Latissimus Dorsi
Known as the "armpit muscle," large muscle attaching humerus to lower back; used for scapula stabilization and elevation of the humerus.
Long-term Goals
Goals that take a long time to reach, usually months to years.
Modified 1RM Bench PressPhysical fitness test that measures upper body strength. Modified 1RM Leg PressPhysical fitness test that measures upper body strength.
Muscular Endurance
The ability to use muscles for a long period of time.
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Muscular Strength
The ability of the muscles to exert a force one time.
Norm-Referenced Tests
Physical fitness tests in which norms are used to indicate fitness levels.
Obesity
A condition characterized by excessive deposits of fat on the body. The condition of being very overfat or having a very high percentage of body fat.
Obstacle
Anything that gets in the way of achievement.
Pectoralis (Major & Minor)
A muscle located on the upper chest; attaches sternum to humerus; adducts and flexes the humerus.
Personal Fitness Program (PFP)
A plan designed to help you select activities to improve your lifestyle.
Physical Activity
Any movement that requires your large muscle groups to work; any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in an expenditure of energy. It includes activities such as walking, riding a bike, cleaning your room, and raking leaves. These activities can require light, moderate, or vigorous effort and can lead to improved health if they are done regularly.
Physical Fitness
Having the energy and strength to participate in a variety of activities; the ability of the body systems to work together efficiently; something you acquire through physical activity and exercise.
Posterior
Back
Power
The ability to do strength performances at a rapid pace.
Pronation
Palms facing down.
Protraction
Pulling apart
Pull-up TestPhysical fitness test that measures upper body strength and endurance. PulseThe beat of the heart that can be felt in any artery that lies close to the skin.
Push-up TestPhysical fitness test that measures upper body strength and endurance. Radial ArteryThe artery in the wrist most commonly used to take a pulse.
Reaction Time
The amount of time needed to move once the senses signal the need to move.
ReceiverMonitoring heart rate using an HRM consists of wearing a receiver watch on the wrist; when you look at the watch, your pulse is shown.
Resting PulseThe lowest your heart rate would go during the day.
Retraction
Pulling together
Rhomboids
scapula stabilization during retraction
Shin Splint
An inflammation of the membrane on the front of the bones in the lower leg.
Short-term Goals
Goals that can be reached in a short period of time, usually from days to months.
Shoulder Stretch TestPhysical fitness test that measures the flexibility of the upper arm muscles and shoulder girdle. Stabilization
Keeps still; non-moving
Stitch in the Side
Sharp pain in the side just under the ribs.
Skill-Related Fitness
The components of physical fitness that contribute to the ability to successfully participate in sports.
Speed
The ability to cover a distance in a short time.
Strength
See Muscular Strength.
Stroke VolumeThe amount of blood pumped for each heartbeat.
Superior
On top of; above.
Supination
Palms facing up.
Target Heart Rate ZoneThe desired range of the heart rate reached during aerobic exercise which enables one's heart and lungs to receive the most benefit from a workout.
Timelines
Tools used to organize and plot the course to a major goal.
TransmitterMonitoring heart rate using an HRM consists of wearing a transmitter around the torso, centered across the sternum of the chest; the transmitter picks up signals of the heart and sends them wirelessly to the watch.
Trapezius
A muscle that is large, diamond-shaped, scapula mobilization; protraction, elevation and depression, and stabilization.
Trunk Lift TestPhysical fitness test that measures trunk strength and flexibility. V-Sit & Reach TestPhysical fitness test that measures the flexibility of the lower back and hamstring muscles. Vertically
Up and down
Warm-Up
A 10- to 15-minute light exercise period during which the body is prepared for vigorous exercise.
Wellness
A state of being that enables a person to reach his or her highest potential; Term used to describe someone's commitment to live a healthy and active lifestyle; encompasses mental, physical, environmental, spiritual, emotional, and social health.
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