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Exercise definitions

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  • Aerobic Exercise
    Continuous, rhythmic movements that elevate heart rate and breathing, primarily enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition.
  • Resistance Training
    Body movements against force, such as weights or bands, aimed at increasing muscle strength, endurance, and bone density.
  • Stretching
    Deliberate lengthening of muscles or tendons to improve flexibility, supporting daily activities and overall fitness.
  • Cardiorespiratory Fitness
    Ability of the heart and lungs to supply oxygen during sustained physical activity, improved mainly by aerobic exercise.
  • Body Composition
    Proportion of fat, muscle, and bone in the body, influenced by both aerobic and resistance exercises.
  • Musculoskeletal Fitness
    Strength, endurance, and health of muscles and bones, primarily developed through resistance training.
  • Flexibility
    Capacity of muscles and joints to move through their full range of motion, essential for performance and injury prevention.
  • Physical Activity Guidelines
    Recommendations outlining minimum weekly exercise amounts for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities to promote health.
  • Maximum Heart Rate
    Estimated upper limit of heartbeats per minute during intense activity, calculated as 220 minus age.
  • Progressive Overload
    Gradual increase in exercise frequency, intensity, or duration to continually challenge the body and improve fitness.
  • FIT Principle
    Framework for exercise program design, emphasizing frequency, intensity, time, and type of activity.
  • Warm Up
    Short preparatory activity before exercise, intended to ready the body and mind, reducing injury risk.
  • Cooldown
    Post-exercise activity that gradually lowers heart rate and aids recovery after physical exertion.
  • Moderate Intensity
    Level of activity that raises heart rate to 50–70% of maximum, suitable for most aerobic exercise recommendations.
  • Vigorous Intensity
    Level of activity that elevates heart rate to 70–85% of maximum, providing greater cardiorespiratory benefits.