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Physical fitness is an attribute required for service in virtually all military forces.

Physical fitness is used in two close meanings: general fitness (a state of health and well-being) and specific fitness (a task-oriented definition based on the ability to perform specific aspects of sports or occupations).

Physical fitness is the capacity of the heart, blood vessels, lungs, and muscles to function at optimum efficiency. In previous years, fitness was defined as the capacity to carry out the day’s activities without undue fatigue. Automation, increased leisure time, and changes in lifestyles following the industrial revolution meant this criterion was no longer sufficient. Optimum efficiency is the key. Physical fitness is now defined as the body’s ability to function efficiently and effectively in work and leisure activities, to be healthy, to resist hypokinetic diseases, and to meet emergency situations. Fitness can also be defined into five categories aerobic fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition.

General fitness

(In alphabetical order):

• Accuracy
• Agility
• Balance
• Body composition
• Cardiovascular endurance
• Coordination
• Flexibility and joint range of motion
• Power
• Speed
• Stamina
• Strength

Many sources also cite mental and emotional health as an important part of overall fitness. This is often presented in textbooks as a triangle made up of three sub-sections, which represent physical, emotional, and mental fitness. Hence, one may be physically fit but may still suffer from a mental illness or have emotional problems. The "ideal triangle" is balanced in all areas. Physical fitness can also prevent or treat many chronic health conditions brought on by unhealthy lifestyle or aging, among other implications. To stay healthy it's important to participate in physical activity. In the fields of science, engineering, industry and statistics, accuracy is the degree of conformity of a measured or calculated quantity to its actual (true) value. ... Agility definitions have traditionally centered around skills that are needed for the body to change direction at speed. ... Equilibrioception or sense of balance is one of the physiological senses. ... In physical fitness, body composition is used to describe the percentages of fat, bone and muscle in human bodies. ... Aerobic exercise refers to exercise that involves or improves oxygen consumption by the body. ... Explain the dystonias connected with motor coordination. ... ‹ The template below (Expand) is being considered for deletion. ... Range of motion or (ROM), as used in the medical and weightlifting communities, is the achievable distance between the flexed position and the extended position of a particular joint or muscle group, or more precisely, the measurement of that distance. ... In physics, power (symbol: P) is the rate at which work is performed or energy is transmitted, or the amount of energy required or expended for a given unit of time. ... Sprints are short running races in athletics. ... Look up Endurance in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about strength training using weight (gravity) to generate resistance to contraction. ... Mental health is a term used to describe either a level of cognitive or emotional wellbeing or an absence of a mental disorder. ... Mental health, mental hygiene and mental wellness are all terms used to describe the absence of mental illness. ... For other uses, see Triangle (disambiguation). ... A mental illness or mental disorder refers to one of many mental health conditions characterized by distress, impaired cognitive functioning, atypical behavior, emotional dysregulation, and/or maladaptive behavior. ...

Specific fitness

Specific or task-oriented fitness is a person's ability to perform in a specific activity with a reasonable efficiency, for example, sports or military service. Specific training prepares athletes to perform well in their sports. For military service in the meaning of an army as a military defense organization, see armed forces. ...

Examples are:

• 400m sprint - in a sprint the athlete must be trained to work anaerobically throughout the race.
• Marathon - in this case the athlete must be trained to work aerobically and their endurance must be built-up to a maximum.

Fire fighters and police officers must undergo regular Fitness testing to determine if they are capable of the physically demanding tasks required for the job before they are employed. In the Scouting programs of some countries, students can earn fitness badges, such as the Physical Fitness Badge which is earned in the United States. Sprints are short running races in athletics. ... For other senses of this word, see Marathon (disambiguation). ... Performing push ups in a Physical Fitness Test A physical fitness test is a test designed to measure physical strength, agility, and/or endurance. ... This article is about the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts/Girl Guides organizations. ... Army Physical Fitness Badge The Physical Fitness Badge is an award of the United States Army and is presented to those soldiers who obtain a score of 270 (or higher, with a score of 90 or above in each event) on the 300-point scale of the Army’s physical...

See also

• Physical exercise
• Exergaming
• Neutral spine
• Health club (fitness center)

U.S. Marine emerging from the swim portion of a triathlon. ... Exergaming (formed from exercise and gaming) is a term used for video games that also provide exercise. ... Modern indoor gymnasium with pull-down basketball hoops Gym is a shortened form of gymnasium referring to facilities intended for indoor sports or exercise. ...

External links

• HealthierUS.gov Official website
• President's Council on Physical Fitness