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There are two types of fitness: Health-related fitness and skill-related fitness. Health-related fitness and includes aerobic capacity, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility and body composition. Skill-related fitness refers to abilities such as speed, reaction time, agility, balance, coordination and power. What is the Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP)?One of the most popular fitness testing programs for schools is the Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP). The Presidential Youth Fitness Program helps schools achieve excellence in physical education through quality fitness education and assessment practices by providing tools to: teach fitness concepts, assess fitness and understand results, plan for improvement or maintenance of fitness levels and empower students to be fit and active for life. Registration is free, and gives you access to members-only free resources. PYFP assesses student health-related fitness, which may be an indicator of health or health risks in young people. PYFP supports health-related fitness assessments and offers not only the assessment but instructional and communication strategies for physical educators and recognition mechanisms for fitness and physical activity achievements.
Exercise intensity refers to how hard your body is working during physical activity. Your health and fitness goals, as well as your current level of fitness, will determine your ideal exercise intensity. Typically, exercise intensity is described as low, moderate, or vigorous. For maximum health benefits, the goal is to work hard, but not too hard – described as moderate intensity by Australia's Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines. These guidelines recommend that for good health, you should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days, in addition to a general message of moving more and sitting less. This is the same for women and men. Pre-exercise screening is used to identify people with medical conditions that may put them at a higher risk of experiencing a health problem during physical activity. It is a filter or ‘safety net’ to help decide if the potential benefits of exercise outweigh the risks for you. Ensure you read through the pre-exercise self-screening before you embark on a physical activity or exercise program. Measuring exercise intensityThere are various ways to measure your exercise intensity to make sure your body is getting the most out of every workout. You may need to experiment to find out which method of measuring exercise intensity suits you best. Three different measurement methods include:
Measuring exercise intensity using your target heart rateThe human body has an in-built system to measure its exercise intensity – the heart. Your heart rate will increase in proportion to the intensity of your exercise. You can track and guide your exercise intensity by calculating your Target Heart Rate (THR) range.For moderate-intensity physical activity, a person's THR should be 50 to 70 per cent of their maximum heart rate. The maximum rate is based on a person's age. An estimate of a person's maximum heart rate can be calculated as 220 beats per minute (bpm) minus your age. Because it is an estimate, use it with caution.Keep your heart rate at the lower end of your recommended range if you are just starting regular exercise. Gradually increase the intensity of your workouts as your fitness improves. Also, your heart rate should stay in the lower ranges during warm-up and cool-down periods.Using a heart rate monitor is an easy way to keep track of your heart rate while you’re exercising, or you can take your pulse (see below).Seeking medical advice about your target heart rateIf you have a medical condition, are overweight, are aged over 40 years or haven’t exercised in a long time, see your doctor for a medical check-up before starting any new exercise program. Your heart rate target range may need to be professionally recalculated to take your health and general fitness into account.Some medications can alter your heart rate response to exercise, so make sure you discuss the medications you are taking and how they could affect your exercise plans with your doctor. It may be necessary to use another option for monitoring exercise intensity if you are taking certain medications.Target heart rate chart
Measuring your heart rate by taking your pulseTaking your pulse at regular intervals lets you know whether you are exercising within your target heart rate range. Some tips include:
Factors known to influence heart rateIt’s not just exercise that affects your heart rate. Your beats per minute could be raised by a number of internal and external factors including:
Measuring exercise intensity using the talk testThe talk test is a simple and reliable way to measure intensity. As a rule of thumb:
Measuring exercise intensity using the exertion rating scaleThis method is based on observing your body’s physical signs during physical activity, including increased heart rate, increased respiration or breathing rate, increased sweating, and muscle fatigue. To keep within a moderate intensity, aim to experience the exercise signs 3–7 in the chart below.You can keep a diary of your exertion ratings to monitor your fitness progressions. As you become fitter, the same activity will become easier and your exertion rating will decrease. Then you’ll know it’s time to increase your effort.
Your body’s response to moderate intensity exercise normally includes:
Exercise intensity warning signsIf you experience any of the following symptoms, stop exercising and seek medical help:
Where to get help
Things to remember
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