What is Health-Related Fitness?

Health-related fitness is a type of physical fitness that is focused on improving overall health and well-being. It is different from skill-related fitness, which is focused on improving athletic performance.

There are five components of health-related fitness:

  • Cardiorespiratory endurance is the Healthtown.ca/ ability of the heart and lungs to deliver oxygen to the working muscles during prolonged exercise. This can be improved by doing regular aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling.
  • Muscular strength is the ability of a muscle to exert a force. This can be improved by doing strength training exercises, such as lifting weights, using resistance bands, or doing bodyweight exercises.
  • Muscular endurance is the ability of a muscle to maintain a force for an extended period of time. This can be improved by doing endurance exercises, such as swimming laps, holding a plank, or doing push-ups.
  • Flexibility is the ability of a joint to move through its full range of motion. This can be improved by doing stretching exercises, such as yoga or Pilates.