Physical Fitness

The term, physical fitness, refers to the ability of the body to healthily do manual labor and other physical tasks well. People gain physical fitness through regular exercise and proper diet and nutrition.

Types of Physical Fitness

The three most common types of physical fitness are strength, flexibility, and endurance. A person who is strong, flexible, and enduring is a very physically fit person.

However, physical fitness also includes the following sub-categories: agility, balance body composition, coordination, speed. Also, one should note that there is a difference between muscular endurance and cardiovascular endurance.

Physical Fitness – Strength

As a type of physical fitness, muscular strength refers to the ability of the body's muscles to lift and move heavy objects, including the body itself. To exercise and gain strength, people can lift weights as well as do body-weight exercises such as pushups and pull-ups. Common weighted exercises include bench presses, squats, and barbell curls, which train the chest, legs, and biceps respectively.

Physical Fitness – Flexibility

As a type of physical fitness, flexibility refers to how far one can stretch their muscles and the range of motion of joints. People train to become more flexible by stretching as far as the can and holding it. Additionally, people can practice particular routines. For example, many people do Yoga to become more flexible.

Physical Fitness – Endurance

As a type of physical fitness, cardiovascular endurance refers to how long a person can exercise or otherwise stay active before failing. People can train their endurance by running, swimming, cycling, etc. for long distances.

Physical fitness not only keeps people healthy, but it leaves them prepared to deal with daily obstacles from moving heavy boxes to chasing down a thief.

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