1. Chapter 1
Introduction

2. Chapter 1 Highlights of this chapter include:
Defining health-related physical fitness (HRPF)
The importance of measuring HRPF
Fundamental principles of assessment
The physical fitness professional
The CDC definition is not all encompassing, but for the sake of consistency, it will be accepted as a general definition of physical fitness. It is important to note that there continues to be much inconsistency within the general community as to what physical fitness is.

3. Defining Health-Related Physical Fitness
What Is Physical Fitness?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 1985) provided a standard definition of physical fitness:
“a set of attributes or characteristics that people have or achieve that relates to the ability to perform physical activity.”
Physical activity: “any bodily movement produced by the contraction of skeletal muscles that results in a substantial increase over resting energy expenditure” (CDC)
Exercise: “a subcategory of physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive and purposive in the sense that improvement or maintenance of one or more components of physical fitness is objective” (CDC)
The CDC definition is not all encompassing, but for the sake of consistency, it will be accepted as a general definition of physical fitness. It is important to note that there continues to be much inconsistency within the general community as to what physical fitness is.

4. Defining Health-Related Physical Fitness—(cont.)
Types of Physical Fitness
Health related (HRPF)—”those specific components of physical fitness that have a relationship to good health” (President’s Council of Physical Fitness)
Sport/skill related—includes specialized components such as agility, speed, power, balance, coordination, and reaction time
Those with the highest levels of physical fitness tend to have maximized their exercise training.
It is important to distinguish the two and clarify that the focus from this point forward will be on health related. 4

5. Defining Health-Related Physical Fitness—(cont.)
Components of Health-Related Physical Fitness
Cardiorespiratory endurance
The ability of the circulatory and respiratory system to supply oxygen during sustained physical activity
Body composition
The relative amounts or percentage of different body tissue (bone, muscle, fat) that are related to health
Muscular strength
The ability to perform activities that require high levels of muscular force
Muscular endurance
The ability of a muscle group to execute repeated contractions over a period of time sufficient to cause muscular fatigue or to maintain a specific percentage of maximum voluntary contraction for a prolonged period of time
Flexibility
The ability to move a joint through its complete range of movement
Note: To better describe integrated status, muscular strength and endurance can be combined into one component of HRPF termed muscular fitness 5

6. Defining Health-Related Physical Fitness—(cont.)
HRPF should be viewed as the sum of its components:
It is important to address the misconception that a person is physically fit when strong in a single component. Someone who can run long distances may have good cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular endurance and be seen as fit, yet they may be highly deficient in muscular strength and flexibility. It is important to understand HRPF as an integration of the components.
FIGURE 1.1. Health-related physical fitness is not a single entity, but rather a sum of five measurable components.

7. The Importance of Measuring HRPF
The Relationship of Physical Fitness to Health
Relationship recognized throughout history
Ancient Chinese and Greek evidence of understanding
Systematic investigation began in early 1900’s
First true body of evidence is 1996 Surgeon General Report
Establishment of strong link between PA and health 7

8. The Importance of Measuring HRPF—(cont.)
The Relationship of Physical Fitness to Health
Dose-Response Relationship
Dose—the amount of physical activity and/or exercise
Dose determined by the frequency, duration, and intensity
Response—the resultant health outcome
Clear evidence links exercise dose with health benefit response, but no minimum dose to achieve benefit has been established. 8

9. The Importance of Measuring HRPF—(cont.)
The Relationship of Physical Fitness to Health
Further guidelines are provided by ACSM in 2011 to provide scientific evidence-based recommendations to health and fitness professionals in the development of individualized exercise prescriptions for apparently health adults of all ages. 9

10. The Importance of Measuring HRPF—(cont.)
The Relationship of Physical Fitness to Health
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
Avoid inactivity.
Both aerobic (endurance) and muscle strengthening (resistance) are beneficial.
For substantial benefit: 2.5 h of moderate intensity or 1.25 h of vigorous intensity per week
For more extensive benefit: 5 h moderate intensity or 2.5 h of vigorous intensity per week
Do muscle strengthening activities 2 or more days per week.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 10

11. The Importance of Measuring HRPF—(cont.)
Reasons to Measure HRPF
Educate participants about health status.
No one single measure of physical fitness, or health, currently exists.
Individualize exercise programs.
Evaluate exercise program progress.
Motivate participants by establishing reasonable and attainable fitness goals. 11

12. The Importance of Measuring HRPF—(cont.)
Relationship of Physical Fitness and Function
Leisure and everyday activities require HRPF components
Hiking—cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance, body composition
Yard Work—muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility 12

13. The Importance of Measuring HRPF—(cont.)
Finally, and in sum, exercise promotes physical fitness, and physical fitness is the measurable outcome PA and exercise; therein lies a need for measuring HRPF. 13

14. Fundamental Principles of Assessment
A Specific Assessment Objective
Gives a focus and purpose
Understood by participant and professional
Aids in selection of the most appropriate assessment procedure
These principles should be applied in all physical fitness tests.

15. Fundamental Principles of Assessment—(cont.)
The Gold Standard (True Measure)
Best possible test for a given variable
Ideally the one test of the true measure
May not always be feasible due to circumstances like
Expense
Time
Availability of trained personnel
Client risk levels

16. Fundamental Principles of Assessment—(cont.)
Standard Error of Estimate
Errors occur when gold standard can’t be applied.
Express error range
± 1 Standard deviation from mean
In terms of SEE for prediction equations (see figure)
FIGURE 1.4. The characteristics of the normal bell curve.

17. Fundamental Principles of Assessment—(cont.)
Equipment Calibration
Dependent on equipment
A wall mounted stadiometer is stable and accurate over time.
A weight scale requires frequent calibration.
Calibrate based on equipment standard to ensure accuracy.
Refer to manufacturer standards

18. Fundamental Principles of Assessment—(cont.)
Standardization
Standardized procedures minimize sources of variability.
Pretest instructions (up to 24 h prior)
Equipment and facility conditions

19. Fundamental Principles of Assessment—(cont.)
Interpretation Issues and Standards
Lack of national interpretation standards exist.
Two basic types of standards commonly used:
Criterion-referenced standards—a set of scores that classify the result (above or below ‘desirable’) based on some external criteria, such as the betterment of health
Normative standards (norms)—based on the past performance of groups of individuals with similar characteristics (e.g., age, gender)
Although a single standard is ideal, no national set of standards had been established for HRPF assessment interpretation.

20. The Physical Fitness Professional
Profession—a calling requiring specialized knowledge, often including long and extensive academic training.
Professional—one who conforms to the technical and ethical standards of his or her profession.
Standardized licensure and certification are not yet broadly in place for HRPF professionals.
Some states are pursuing legislature.
Employers have voluntarily set standards for employees to be able to perform assessments or supervise programs.

21. The Physical Fitness Professional—(cont.)
Academic Training
Many universities offer exercise science-based degrees.
Though titles and curriculum vary by university.
The American College of Sports Medicine has become a leader in initiating efforts to support accreditation of academic degree programs in Exercise Science.

22. The Physical Fitness Professional—(cont.)
Credentials
Certification is currently from within professional organizations.
The ACSM provides the most widely recognized certification programs.
ACSM offers both fitness-related and clinical types of NCCA accredited certifications
Appendix D of the ACSM’s GETP10 provides detailed information about ACSM certifications.