FITNESS & CONDITIONING VOCABULARY TERMS

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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 Artery 

The 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 Test

Physical 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.

Endorphins

Chemicals that block pain messages from reaching brain cells and produce feelings of pleasure.

Exercise

Any 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 Hang

Physical 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.

Heartbeat

The sound of the valves in your heart closing as they push blood from one chamber to the next.

Heart Rate

The 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 Press    

Physical fitness test that measures upper body strength.

Modified 1RM Leg Press

Physical fitness test that measures upper body strength.

Muscular Endurance

The ability to use muscles for a long period of time.

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 Test

Physical fitness test that measures upper body strength and endurance.

Pulse

The beat of the heart that can be felt in any artery that lies close to the skin. 

Push-up Test

Physical fitness test that measures upper body strength and endurance.

Radial Artery

The 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.

Receiver 

Monitoring 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 Pulse

The 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 Test

Physical 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 Volume

The amount of blood pumped for each heartbeat.

Superior

On top of; above.

Supination

Palms facing up.

Target Heart Rate Zone

The 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.

Transmitter

Monitoring 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 Test

Physical fitness test that measures trunk strength and flexibility.

V-Sit & Reach Test

Physical 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.