Being a Health and Fitness Professional, it is my job to understand terms and definitions which are commonplace to the industry, as well to keep up to date with evolving trends. Through my experience, I've found that a amount of terms deserve a bit more clarification than that which they are granted.
Aside from clarifying this is of MEDICAL Fitness, this article intends to shed some light on some of the associated terms, and to show their respective distinctions.
Is it simply all in a name?
Click here for more info appears to use the concept MEDICAL Fitness like a generic fitness principle - interchangeable with others like "CONDITIONING", "Health" or simply "Fitness."
While all these terms can be included beneath the broad term Health and CONDITIONING, they individually refer to different aspects - both generic and specific. Unfortunately, references to these and other fitness-related terms are often vague, while consistency within their intended use is meager at best; there exists a kind of "generally accepted" use for them, but individuals often rely on own interpretation, which can result in confusion.
With that said, does MEDICAL Fitness simply infer fitness by means of good health? Not quite. That is why we must understand a little more behind these words before digesting this is.
How did the word Health Related Physical Fitness come about?
That is a good question. One could probably ask what's this concept about - can we not simply use the terms "Fitness" or "Physical Fitness" instead?" Why Health "Related"?
The main reason stems from the truth that most health and fitness terms are used inconsistently and often refer to different concepts or notions. After the 1996 report from the US Surgeon General (Physical Activity and Health; a written report of the Surgeon General), there was a move to try and address the alarming rise in obesity levels on the list of general American public. Studies and initiatives required standardization among clinicians, doctors and fitness trainers to grapple with the task at hand. Enter "MEDICAL Physical Fitness", an operating term to address the overall state of health on the list of public.
The definition of MEDICAL Fitness
According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the primary authority in this field, ineffective definitions with unclear and subjective wordings, in addition to definitions containing terms which themselves require defining, have contributed to confusing the term "Physical Fitness."
There is no reliable guide for Health Professionals to measure "CONDITIONING", as the term has been so loosely and inconsistently defined. It is therefore that one should consider the concept of MEDICAL Fitness. The definition therefore centers around the 5 Components of Physical Fitness which relate to "a healthy body." These Components are:
Cardiorespiratory Fitness
Body Composition
Flexibility
Muscular Strength
Muscular Endurance
On the other hand, Skill Related Fitness Components are:
Balance
Reaction Time
Coordination
Agility
Speed
Power
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this is of CONDITIONING emphasizes the difference between MEDICAL Physical Fitness and Athletic Ability Physical Fitness. Its point-of-departure is the "health" of the US nation, which is also known as the "public health perspective." Due to that, the 5 MEDICAL Fitness Components are more important than those linked to Athletic Ability (or Skill Related Components).
Although the idea of Health Related Fitness comes with an integral association with "a healthy body", the 5 Components are addressed individually by health professionals to allow for their measurement.
Now that we have a deeper knowledge of the word, what purpose does it serve?
Continuing from where in fact the definition left off, the aim of measuring the 5 Components would be to advise clients about their own particular MEDICAL Fitness, and to use data obtained from the tests to design appropriate exercise programs which can then be evaluated.
The 5 Components contribute evenly to make up a holistic Health Related Fitness, that is of direct interest to the fitness of the ordinary citizen, for the reason that the idea is normative. In other words, this can be a standard that allows for consistent application.
It is t here fore very important to those working in the health and fitness industry never to mistake "overall conditioning" with "Health Related Physical fitness."
To conclude, why don't we think about this distinction between CONDITIONING and MEDICAL Fitness
One needs to be aware that regular physical exercise can improve overall Physical Fitness, as well as MEDICAL Fitness. However, overall fitness is a generic term and is around subjective interpretation, while MEDICAL Fitness can be assessed.
The distinction therefore, between both of these terms, exists for the reason that Health Related Physical Fitness can be measured in accordance with a couple of established comparative norms.
This is where the "rubber hits the road." The guidelines lay out by the ACSM enable health professionals to utilize clients to assess and measure their reaction to exercise and prescribe appropriate exercise programs. A client's progress may then be monitored and adjusted where necessary so as to obtain the desired workout goals.
Cleto Tirabassi is really a certified PHYSICAL FITNESS TRAINER with the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA).
His work centers around the "sensible approach" to Health Related Fitness, which entails the application of practical, flexible and sustainable solutions to achieve optimal levels of health and physical fitness.
His clientele belongs mostly to the group he calls "average everyday people", who in short wish to be in excellent shape, yet still lead a conventional life.