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Fitness is often thought of as "one size fits all." In other words, you're either fit or you're not.
In reality, the science of fitness goes much further and demonstrates that multiple components come into play. 1 For example, if a very strong and muscular person lacks flexibility, does that mean they are not physically fit? Conversely, a petite gymnast can touch their toes and perform a back split, but probably can't lift the same weights as the person in the first example. Is they then physically fit? Overall fitness is best determined by examining the body's performance in different scenarios.
A holistic approach to fitness
Overall fitness covers several aspects. To better understand it, it can be divided into components or categories, which also allows us to study the demands of each sport, and even the specific requirements of each position within that sport. On a football pitch, for example, a goalkeeper will have to work on different areas than a striker.
Health-related components of fitness
The health-related components of fitness are those that need to be worked on to be in better shape. They can be divided as follows:
Body composition : The distribution of fat, muscle, and bone percentages in the body has a direct effect on fitness levels. A high jumper will have a lean body composition to enable them to propel themselves upwards, while a shot putter will need a denser body composition to generate the force needed to throw further.
Cardiovascular endurance : Some sports require a very high level of cardiovascular endurance. Long-distance running, for example, depends on the ability of the heart, lungs, and blood to efficiently transport oxygen over a long period of time.
Flexibility : The range of motion allowed by the joints is a measure of physical fitness, and some sports require more than others. Gymnastics, for example, requires more flexibility than billiards.
Muscular endurance : It is the ability to continue training without the muscles becoming exhausted. Rowing is a good example of a sport where this is necessary, as rowers must be able to repeat the same movement for a long period of time.
Strength : Strength is a measure of the power that muscles can exert when encountering resistance. Wrestling, for example, requires more physical strength than a sport like badminton.
The components of physical fitness related to qualities
Many sports require different fitness-related qualities. Studies have shown that gymnasts need high levels of speed, strength, endurance, agility, flexibility, and power. 2 The components of fitness related to qualities are those that can be improved through practice:
Precision : Controlling movements in a specific direction is essential for certain sports, such as boxing, where you have to concentrate on a very specific area.
Agility : The ability to change direction quickly in a controlled manner is more important in sports such as tennis and squash than in disciplines such as sprinting.
Balance : The ability to control and stabilize the body is essential in many sports and is a good indication of fitness for a sprinter, for example, who must be able to maintain complete stillness until the gun goes off and then take off.
Coordination : Being able to use two or more body parts simultaneously to perform distinct movements demonstrates good coordination. Basketball dribbling is a good example: the legs must move forward while the hand must maintain contact with the ball while moving it.
Power : Power is a key indicator of fitness in sports such as javelin or discus throwing, where performance depends on how far the arm can throw, after applying a large force to the object while propelling the arm forward.
Speed : Speed is often considered a reflection of fitness in sports that involve getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible, such as running.
When you break down fitness, you'll see that it's not just about who's fastest or who performs best. Fitness is unique to each individual and each type of sport. The important thing is to use your own abilities as a benchmark and not compare yourself to others. No matter your fitness level based on one of these components or all 11, practice and persistence will help you improve them all.