Physical fitness and health

Physical fitness and health

Physical fitness refers to the body's physiological ability to perform physical exercises that require muscle strength and endurance. Physical fitness can be measured by physical characteristics such as endurance, muscle strength or speed needed in exercise performance. Another way to look at physical fitness is to measure the function of organ systems such as the respiratory and circulatory systems or the neuro-muscular system.

Physical fitness is an important determinant of how well an individual is able to cope with daily chores and physical performance without getting tired. A good physical condition helps you cope with the day's challenges and more strenuous exercise without difficulty. 

The areas of physical fitness are: 

• respiratory and circulatory system condition or endurance condition
• musculoskeletal condition or muscle condition.

Endurance fitness

Endurance fitness refers to the ability or ability to perform moderately demanding or heavy exercise performances that require the whole body and large muscle groups for a longer period of time. Regular moderate or heavy-duty exercise improves the condition of the respiratory and circulatory systems and leads to an increase in their performance and efficiency. Above all, this means that the transport of oxygen to the muscles and the use in the muscles is enhanced.

Muscle condition

Muscular fitness refers to the overall functional capacity of the neuro-muscular system, i.e. the ability of muscle cells to produce force at the level required by movement and the nervous system. Flexibility, i.e. the range of motion of the body's joints or joint groups, and balance, i.e. the ability to maintain balance while standing still or moving, are also important properties for muscle condition. 

The amount of physical activity, its intensity and physical condition have a positive effect on each other. Increased amount and intensity of physical activity often leads to improved physical condition. When physical condition improves, the amount and intensity of physical activity can also be increased. Good physical condition also predicts health and is related to, among other things: 

• to reduced total mortality 
• to reduced cardiovascular disease-related mortality  
• to a reduced risk of falling ill with various long-term diseases on a large scale.