5 Components Of Fitness And How To Measure Them

There are many components of fitness. It could mean flexibility, strength, agility, or muscle endurance. What fitness is not is one-size-fits-all. It has got nothing to do with your size. Instead, fitness is a harmonious balance between your physical and mental strengths. When you are fit, your metabolismⁱ  A chemical reaction in the body that converts calories from food to energy required for sustaining life. is at its peak – your body is lean, your posture is good, and you have good stamina and quick reaction time. Read on to know about the five components of fitness to know if you are really fit. Scroll down to get the details.

What Is Fitness?

Fitness is your body’s ability to function properly during activity and leisure times, being able to protect the body from diseases caused due to leading a sedentary life, and to be able to meet the physical and functional requirements during emergency situations.

Your fitness can be divided into two concepts:

• General Fitness – state of physical and mental health and well-being
• Specific Fitness – specific task or sport oriented fitness

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 31% met the guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week in 2020. It was further estimated that 28.3% of men and 20.4% of women met the physical activity guidelines.

For non-athletes, the five components of fitness are the best ways to determine your fitness. Scroll down to know what they are.

5 Components Of Fitness

For the general population, being healthy and fit is the main target. And health-related fitness aims at improving the overall well-being and functioning of the body. Here are the 5 components of fitness and how to measure them.

1. Body Composition

Body composition measurement helps you understand how much fat and muscle mass are present in your body. Your height, age, weight, bone structure, and the ratio of fat and lean muscle are all considered to find out your body composition (1). If you workout at a gym, I am sure your trainer must have asked you to get a body composition analysis (BCA) done so that depending on your goals (weight loss or muscle gain), he/she can help you reach your target. Here’s how body composition is analyzed.

How To Measure Body Composition

You can get your body composition measured professionally at the gym using calipers or a bioelectrical impedance machineⁱ  An equipment that estimates the fat and muscle mass composition by sending a small electric current through the body. . You can also use DEXAⁱ  It is a noninvasive medical imaging technique which uses low-intensity x-rays to scan the body composition. or BodPodⁱ  A pod which measures body volume and weight. The computerized system displays the body density and body fat percentage. or hydrostatic weighing machinesⁱ  Underwater weighing technique which provides the most accurate measurement of body composition and body fat. , which are more accurate and recommended methods of measurement (1). All you have to do is follow the instructions of the technician, and a printed report will be generated and handed out to you.

Quick Tip

You can use bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), skinfold readings, or a body fat calculator to measure your body composition.

Do This To Improve Body Composition

If you want to lose weight, your first goal should be losing the extra flab. Plan a fitness routine comprising body composition exercises like cardio and resistance three days a week for one hour each day. Fill your diet with primarily whole foods such as whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. Minimize processed foods. Start strength training from Week 3, two days a week, one hour per day.

To gain weight, you must strength train to build lean muscle mass, eat healthy (same as above), sleep better, and take steps to minimize stress in your life.

2. Flexibility

Flexibility is the measure of the ability of your muscles to move to their full range of motion. Since most of us lead a sedentary life, the joints become immobile and lose their flexibility. As a result, you feel a sharp pain and tightness in your joints when you are asked to move your body parts to do certain movements. But being flexible will help you prevent joint injuries (2).

Note: Try to learn some recovery techniques that help you recover from injuries quickly.

How To Measure Flexibility

In the lab, flexibility is measured using a flexometer or goniometer, and in the field, it is measured using zipper or sit and reach tests.

Do This To Improve Flexibility

Regular exercise, stretching, practicing mobility exercises, functional training exercises, and yoga are great for increasing flexibility. In addition, including warm-up exercises and cool-down exercises may help improve flexibility. If your joints are weak, wear joint support. Start slow, but be persistent.

Emily Lenart, a blogger, shares how yoga helps her achieve a healthier lifestyle. She says it improves her physical and mental health. She says, “Yoga has improved my flexibility and made me a much stronger person (i).”

3. Cardiovascular Fitness

Cardiovascular fitness determines if your heart and lungs are working in coordination. A study claims that exercising regularly can be beneficial for your cardiovascular health (3). Moderate levels of workouts lower the risk of cardiovascular mortality and developing heart diseases. However, vigorous exercises such as marathon running can have a detrimental effect on your cardiovascular fitness.

How To Measure Cardiovascular Fitness

In the gym or the lab, your cardiovascular fitness will be measured by calculating your VO2 max. You will be asked to run a 12-minute run, walk a mile, do other treadmill and bicycle tests, etc.

Do This To Improve Cardiovascular Fitness

You have to include cardio in your workout regimen. Start by walking and then increasing the pace of your walk and the distance. Move on to jogging, running, and sprinting. You must also play a field sport that includes body part movements and coordination of the brain and the body. You can also try endurance training (which includes high-intensity interval training (HIIT), anaerobic training, and aerobic training) to improve your cardiovascular fitness.

4. Muscle Strength

Muscle strength is the ability of your muscles to lift weight and exert a force against a resistance (4). For example, when you lift weights or a heavy box or a child, your muscles have to act against the gravitational pull to be able to lift the weight. The muscles have to contract and relax to complete the range of motion. Unless your muscles are strong and flexible, you will not be able to lift, push, and pull anything. Now, there are three classes of muscle strength:

Elastic strength – The ability of the muscle to overcome resistance force by contracting quickly.

Maximum strength – The greatest force possible in a single maximum contraction.

Strength endurance – The ability to do the same contraction multiple times.

How To Measure Muscle Strength

The 1RM test is conducted in the lab on resistance machines to measure muscular strength. Dynamometersⁱ  It is a small handheld device that can be used to measure the force and muscle strength of a person. also can be used. Isometric and isotonic contractionsⁱ  Contraction of the muscle whereby the length of the muscle changes but the tension remains the same. For example: Squats and push-ups. also give information about muscle strength.

Do This To Improve Muscle Strength

Include core strength training in your workout. Lifting weights on a regular basis or even doing bodyweight training (resistance training) will help improve your muscle strength. In addition, you can also try balance exercises and powerlifting.

5. Muscle Endurance

Muscle endurance is the measure of the ability of the muscles to perform the same task again and again without getting tired soon (5). For example, running a marathon is a typical example of muscle endurance power. It also shows how effectively your heart and lung muscles are working to keep your cells oxygenated and prevent fatigue.

How To Measure Muscle Endurance

In the lab and the field, muscular endurance is measured by counting the number of repetitions for an extended period. Running, jogging, circuit training, plyometric training, and cross training are common ways to assess muscle endurance.

Do This To Improve Muscle Endurance

Practice your run/jog/planks/push-ups/bicep curls. Do a mixed workout 4-5 days a week. Eat healthily and set new targets for every week. Increase the sets and reps of your exercise over a period.

These are the 5 components of fitness. But if you want to reap the most benefits of physical exercises successfully, you have to master the skill-related components of these exercises. Keep reading to learn about them.

Skill-Related Components Of Fitness

• Speed: It is the ability to move rapidly from one point to another. It is significant in sprinting and track and field events.
• Accuracy: It is the ability to control movements to achieve a specific target or goal. It is significant in archery, darts, and shooting.
• Rhythm: It is the ability to maintain a consistent and coordinated timing of movements. It is crucial in dancing, figure skating, and rhythmic gymnastics.
• Spatial Awareness: It is the understanding of one’s body in relation to the surrounding space. It is essential in diving, high jump, and parkour.

Mastering these components will improve your athletic performance. But if you are an athlete, you have to step up your game. Here are a few extra components of fitness that you should take care of.

Other Components Of Fitness For Athletes

• Agility
• Power
• Balance
• Coordination
• Reaction time

Quick Tip

You can engage in exercises like cone drills, lateral-running forward drills, or jump box drills to improve your agility.

Infographic: A Closer Look At The 5 Components Of Fitness

Finding a balance between your physical and mental strengths becomes easy when you train your body in a way that allows it to be at its peak. Creating a wholesome fitness routine involves paying attention to its essential components. That way, your fitness journey becomes smoother. The infographic below gives you an overview of these components and how to improve them. Check it out!

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are the various components of fitness important in sports?

These fitness components help you perform physical activities well, and they include a wide range of abilities. They also help you achieve stamina and the power to excel in sports activities.

Why is it important to focus on all the components of physical fitness?

Staying active and improving all the components of your physical fitness is key to maintaining your overall health and functioning well. These also can give you the strength to indulge in various physical activities.

Is speed a component of fitness?

Yes, speed is a component of fitness as it is the ability to move all or part of the body as quickly as possible.

Illustration: Components Of Fitness And How To Measure Them

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Explore the essential components of physical fitness in this enlightening video below. Click on it now to gain a deeper understanding of strength, endurance, flexibility, and more, as you embark on your journey to a healthier lifestyle.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Kristen ArnoldMS, RDN, CSSD

   

Kristen is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a board-certified specialist in Sports Dietetics with 9 years of experience. She also has a Master’s in Human Nutrition from The Ohio State University. She owns a private practice nutrition counseling business focusing on performance nutrition for athletes.

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Charushila BiswasHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Charushila is an ISSA certified Fitness Nutritionist and a Physical Exercise Therapist. Over a span of 6 years, she has authored more than 400 articles on diet, lifestyle, exercises, healthy food, and fitness equipment. She strives to inform, educate, and motivate her readers via authentic, straightforward, and fact-checked information.

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Ravi Teja TadimallaCo-Editor-in-Chief

Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a Co-Editor-in-Chief and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over a decade. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University.

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Payal KarnikSenior Health & Wellness Writer

Payal Karnik is a senior health and wellness writer and a Certified Health and Nutrition Life Coach. She is a biotechnology graduate from the University of Mumbai with a keen interest in writing and a natural curiosity for science.

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