As a health and fitness professional, it is my responsibility to comprehend the terminology used in my field and to stay up to date on emerging trends. My experience has taught me that some terminologies need a little more explanation than they currently receive.
This article aims to define the word “Health Related Fitness,” as well as explain some of the terms that are related to it and highlight how they differ from one another.
Is the answer merely in the name?
The term “Health Related Fitness” appears to be used interchangeably with terms like “Physical Fitness,” “Health and Fitness,” and “Fitness” in the fitness industry.
Even though all of these phrases can be grouped together under the umbrella term “health and physical fitness,” they each refer to various elements, both general and specialised. There is a kind of “generally accepted” use for these and other fitness-related terms, but people frequently rely on their own interpretation, which can cause confusion. Unfortunately, references to these and other fitness-related terms are frequently ambiguous, and consistency in their intended use is meagre at best.
Having said that, does health-related fitness just indicate fitness through excellent health? Not exactly. Therefore, before consuming the definition, we need to comprehend a bit more about what these phrases actually mean.
What is the origin of the phrase “health related physical fitness”?
That is a valid query. One can wonder what the point of this idea is, and if we couldn’t just call it “fitness” or “physical fitness” instead. Why is it “Health Related”?
The fundamental cause is that most phrases related to health and fitness are used erratically and frequently to refer to various concepts or notions. There was an effort to attempt and address the alarming rise in obesity levels among the general American people after the 1996 report from the US Surgeon General (Physical Activity and Health; a Report of the Surgeon General). To address the issue at hand, studies and initiatives required standardisation across clinicians, health professionals, and fitness coaches. Enter “Health Related Physical Fitness,” a working phrase to describe the public’s general level of health.
Health Related Fitness explained
The term “Physical Fitness” has been muddled, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the leading authority in this field. Ineffective definitions with ambiguous and subjective wordings as well as definitions containing terms that themselves require definition have also contributed.
Due to the term’s ambiguous and varying definitions, there is no valid tool for health and fitness professionals to measure “Physical Fitness”. Therefore, one should think about the idea of health-related fitness. The 5 Components of Physical Fitness, which pertain to “excellent health,” are consequently at the centre of the concept. These elements include:
Fitness for the Heart and lungs
Physical Makeup
Flexibility
Muscular Power
muscular stamina
Conversely, skill-related fitness components include:
Balance
Response Time
Coordination
Agility
Speed
Power
The distinction between athletic ability physical fitness and health related physical fitness is emphasised in the definition of physical fitness provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The “health” of the US as a whole, often known as the “public health perspective,” serves as its point of departure. The 5 health-related fitness components are more significant than the ones related to athletic ability in this regard (or Skill Related Components).
Despite the fact that the concept of health-related fitness is inextricably linked to “excellent health,” the 5 Components are addressed separately by health professionals to enable measurement.
What function does the term serve now that we have a better knowledge of what it means?
Continuing where the definition left off, the goal of assessing the 5 Components is to provide customers with advice regarding their own specific Health Related Fitness and to use the results of the tests to create effective training regimens that can then be assessed.
Because the notion is normative, the five components work together harmoniously to create a holistic health-related fitness that is directly relevant to the general public’s health. It is a standard that enables uniform application, in other words.
As a result, it’s crucial for individuals in the health and fitness sector to distinguish between “total physical fitness” and “health related physical fitness.”
Finally, let’s think about the difference between physical fitness and health-related fitness.
It is important to keep in mind that regular exercise can enhance both general physical fitness and fitness related to one’s health. While Health Related Fitness can be measured, overall fitness is a general phrase that is open to subjective interpretation.
Because Health Related Physical Fitness may be measured in accordance with a set of established comparative criteria, this divergence between the two words exists.
The “rubber hits the road” at this point. Health practitioners can work with clients to assess and measure their reaction to exercise and prescribe suitable exercise programmes thanks to the recommendations established by the ACSM. The client’s progress can then be tracked and modified as needed to achieve the required fitness goals.
Fitness trainer Cleto Tirabassi holds certification from the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA).
His work focuses on the “intelligent approach” to health-related fitness, which calls for the employment of doable, adaptable, and long-lasting strategies to attain ideal levels of fitness and health.
His clientele is primarily comprised of what he refers to as “ordinary daily folks,” who desire, in essence, to be in terrific shape while still leading a typical life. For more details, please click here Bonita Meninas
