PATHFIT2

• Exercise refers to physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive for the purpose of improving or maintaining physical fitness
• Exercise involves the use of various movements and actions to stimulate and challenge the body's muscles, cardiovascular system, and other physiological functions
• Forms of exercise include:

  • Aerobic activities (e.g., running, swimming, cycling)
  • Strength training (using weights or resistance)
  • Flexibility exercises (stretching)
  • Balance training
• Ancient Civilizations:

  • Egypt: Physical fitness was highly valued, with laborers engaging in physically demanding jobs
  • Greece: Physical education and athletics were integral, with the development of the Olympic Games in 776 BCE
• Roman Empire:

  • Romans adopted and adapted Greek exercise traditions, emphasizing physical fitness for military prowess
  • Public baths and gymnasiums were popular, and physical training was part of the Roman military's routine
• Medieval and Renaissance Periods:

  • Physical activity was associated with military training, with knights and soldiers engaging in combat training and archery
• 18th and 19th Centuries:

  • The Industrial Revolution led to a decrease in physical activity levels
  • Organized physical education and gymnastics programs emerged, promoting systematic physical training
• 20th Century:

  • Growth of sports and organized physical education in schools
  • Fitness boom in the 1960s and 1970s with jogging, aerobics, and weightlifting gaining popularity
• Late 20th Century to Present:

  • Focus on a holistic approach to fitness, incorporating physical exercise, nutrition, mental well-being, and preventive healthcare
  • Innovations in exercise equipment, fitness tracking devices, and online fitness programs
• Importance of Exercise:

  • Crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being
  • Key aspects include physical health, mental and emotional well-being, improved sleep, disease prevention, enhanced flexibility and balance, social interaction, longevity, and quality of life
• Classification of Exercise:

  • Can be classified based on type of activity, purpose, duration and intensity, setting, sports and recreation, age, and population
  • Helps design well-rounded exercise programs tailored to specific fitness goals, preferences, and health considerations
• Health related components of physical fitness:

  • Body composition: relative amount of muscle, fat, bone, and other vital parts of the body
  • Flexibility: range of motion in the body, ability to stretch, bend, and twist
  • Muscular endurance: ability of the muscle to continue to perform without fatigue
  • Muscular strength: ability of the muscle to exert force during an activity
  • Cardiovascular endurance: ability of the body’s circulatory and respiratory systems to supply fuel during sustained physical activity
• Skill related components of physical fitness:

  • Agility: ability to move quickly and change direction in different levels
  • Balance: sense of equilibrium in the body, weight of the body rests in the center of gravity
  • Coordination: using body parts and senses together to produce smooth, efficient movement vital in sports
  • Reaction time: how quickly your brain responds to a stimulus and initiates a response
  • Power: performing a task quickly and forcibly
  • Speed: ability to reach a distance in the shortest period of time
• Benefits of physical fitness:

  • Makes the body strong and healthy
  • Improves health and skill related components of fitness
  • Helps the body adapt to different physical exertions/activities
  • Enables one to do different activities and still have reserve energy
  • Avoids cardio and respiratory illness
  • Helps the body to be in good shape
  • Makes the body more flexible and less susceptible to sickness