The term aptitude , which comes from the Latin word aptitūdo , refers to the capacity or competence for the development of a task or the exercise of an activity . Physical , for its part, is a concept with several uses: in this case we are interested in its meaning as that linked to the corporal or the body .
The idea of physical fitness is related to the organic capacity of a person to efficiently carry out an activity that involves the use of the body. Those who have good physical fitness are able to carry out exercises over an extended period of time without experiencing symptoms of fatigue, and then manage to recover in a short period of time.
Physical fitness is also related to healthy organ function. A person with an organic deficiency may not have the physical fitness necessary to perform certain activities.
The importance of physical fitness
It can be said that it is necessary to have basic physical fitness for the development of non-competitive exercises, such as walking or jogging. For professional sports , on the other hand, the athlete must have optimal physical fitness since his or her body is subjected to great effort.
It is possible to improve physical fitness through training . By developing qualities such as muscle strength and elongation, aerobic capacity and joint mobility, the individual improves their physical fitness and, in this way, achieves higher performance.
Assessment to reduce risks
It must be taken into account that, to know the physical fitness of each person and enhance it, it is necessary to consult a doctor and a physical trainer . Performing exercises without control is risky for your health .
In certain areas, where a certain type of well-defined physical fitness is required, it is necessary to resort to an evaluation . To do this, data such as the risk of disease and potential contraindications for performing the exercises are usually taken. It is important to note that signed consent must be obtained from the person before being tested.
Through the results of a physical fitness evaluation, it is also possible to identify the individual's weaknesses, and based on this data, establish a series of objectives to combat them. To do this, it is necessary to carry out specific tests that yield well-defined values, which must be repeated throughout the improvement process to compare the performance of each session with the initial one.
Components of physical fitness
Cardiorespiratory endurance
It is about the ability of the circulatory system and lungs to effectively provide the muscles we are exercising with the oxygen and nutrients they need. It is possible to measure maximum oxygen consumption , that is, the rate at which the muscles use it, to evaluate cardiorespiratory endurance. One of the useful tests to determine this value is called progressive stress .
Musculoskeletal fitness
It is the ability of the muscular and skeletal systems to perform work. The three fundamental points of this component of physical fitness are bone resistance, muscle resistance and strength.
Weight and body composition
These two properties of the organism are closely linked: while weight tells us about the mass or size of the body, composition relates this to absolute and relative amounts of adipose tissue, bone and muscle. To modify them, resistance training and aerobic exercise are recommended.
Flexibility
It is the ability to perform fluid articulatory movements throughout the entire possible range. Some of the limiting factors are the size and strength of certain connective tissues, such as ligaments and muscles, and bone structure . To increase these components of physical fitness, it is ideal to stretch daily.