Principles of fitness training

 

Knowledge from the field of exercise physiology offers guidelines for physical educators to use when planning and conducting programs to improve fitness. These principles should be followed whether the exercise program is being designed by an elementary physical educator to improve students’ health fitness, by a coach to improve athletes’ performance, by an exercise leader to enhance adult’s fitness, or by an exercise specialist as part of a patient’s cardiac rehabilitation program. Several physiological and behavioural factors must be taken into account if the sought-after benefits – improvement and maintenance of fitness – are to be realized. There are the most important of them:

· Principle of overload.

· Principle of specificity.

· The individual’s initial level of fitness must be considered.

· Warm-up and cool-down activities are important.

· Progression should be followed in planning a program.

· Individual differences must be taken into account.

· Safety is paramount.

 

 

4.1. Listen to the text “Principles of Fitness Training”.

4.2. Answer the questions.

 

1. Do physical educators use knowledge from the field of exercise physiology when planning and conducting programs to improve fitness? 2. What kind of exercise programs should take into consideration physiological and behavioural factors? 3. Name the main physiological principles of fitness training.

 

 

4.3. Retell the text.

 

V. Retell the oral topic:

 

 

EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND FITNESS Exercise physiology is one of the most rapidly growing areas in physical education today. Exercise physiology is the study of the effects of exercise on the body ranging from the system to the subcellular levels. Knowledge of the body’s responses to exercise is needed by the practitioner to design meaningful exercise programs. One concern of the exercise physiologists is fitness. The public today is more fitness-minded than ever before. Professionals should take advantage of this interest to improve the fitness levels of all segments of the population. In essence, physical educators should educate the nation about fitness. Within the profession, interest has increased in health-related fitness as opposed to performance-related fitness. The components of health-related and performance-related fitness are different. And, the extent to which these components are developed depends on individuals’ goals. The health fitness components are cardiovascular function, body composition, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility. Less than desirable levels of these components can lead to health problems. On the other hand, attainment of desirable levels of these components can enhance one’s health and well-being. Many benefits are derived from participation in exercise and physical activity. The belief that being active is essential for good health is strongly supported. Participants should follow medical guidelines and be sure that their programs follow sound training principles. Individuals should be cognizant that exercise performance can be affected by warm-up and nutrition and that exercise can be beneficial in alleviating stress and fatigue. Several deterrents to fitness are a sedentary lifestyle, high-fat diets, and use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.

 

 

UNIT XVI

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST # 6

These tasks are designed to assist you in determining if you have mastered the materials and competencies presented in the above studied information.

 

1. Define exercise physiology and discuss the importance of exercise physiology to the practitioner. Investigate one of the areas of study in exercise physiology and write a short paper on a selected topic of interest to you.

 

2. Assess your own fitness level or that of your parents. The, keeping in mind the guidelines for designing an exercise or training program, construct a fitness program to achieve or maintain the desired level of fitness.

 

3. In a short paper discuss how an individual’s lifestyle and habits may be a deterrent to a state of fitness and health.

 

4. What rationale would you use to persuade a friend who was tired all the time, feeling overwhelmed by stress, and overweight to start a physical fitness program.

5. Prepare an essay in which you assess the physical fitness statues of the nation’s youth and adults. Conclude your paper with recommendations for improving the physical fitness status of each group.

 

UNIT XI

PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDTIONS