| Terms & Definitions |
| Related Topics |
Aerobic exercise - Any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously,
and is rhythmic in nature ( American College of Sports Medicine). Exercise that increases the need
for oxygen. The term aerobic means “with oxygen”.
Agonist muscle - A muscle that is very effective in causing a certain joint movement. Also called
the prime mover.
Amenorrhea - The absence of menstruation, commonly found in women with a very low body fat
percentage.
Anaerobic exercise - Short lasting, high intensity activity, where the demand for oxygen from the
exercise exceeds the oxygen supply.
Angina pectoris - Chest pain due to lack of blood flow (oxygen) to the heart.
Antagonist muscle - A muscle that causes movement at a joint in a direction opposite to that of the
joint’s agonist (prime mover).
Beta-blockers - Type of medication that reduces heart rate. Exercisers who take beta-blockers will
have a lower heart rate at rest and during exercise, so the target heart rate formula cannot be used
in this case.
Bioelectrical impedance - This method of measuring body composition is based on the fact that
the lean tissue of the body is much more conductive due to its higher water content than fat tissue.
The more lean tissue present in the body, the greater the conductive potential, measured in ohms.
Body composition - Amount of fat vs. lean muscle tissue in the human body.
Body Mass Index (BMI) - Measure of the relationship between height and weight; calculated by
dividing weight in kilograms by height in centimeters squared. “Normal” BMI for women is 19-25%
and for men is 14-20%.
Caffeine - A stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and some soft drinks that increases heart
contractions, oxygen consumption, metabolism, and urinary output.
Calisthenics - Exercising using one’s own body weight which helps develop muscular tone.
Cardiorespiratory fitness - Measure of the heart’s ability to pump oxygen-rich blood to the
muscles. Also called cardiovascular or aerobic fitness.
Cardiovascular system - A complex system consisting of the heart and blood vessels; transports
nutrients, oxygen, and enzymes throughout the body and regulates temperature, water levels of
cells, and acidity levels of body components.
Circuit training - Takes the participant through a series of exercise stations (which could also
include strength training), with relatively brief rest intervals between each station. The purpose is to
keep the heart rate elevated near the aerobic level without dropping off. The number of stations
may range from 4 to 10.
Concentric muscle action - Force produced while the muscle is shortening in length.
Continuous training - This is the most common type of sustained aerobic exercise for fitness
improvement, slowly adding more time to the workout to increase endurance.
Cool down - Lowering of body temperature following vigorous exercise. The practice of cooling
down after exercise involves slowing down your level of activity gradually.
Core - Abdominals, lower back, obliques, hips and spine.
Cortisol - A hormone secreted by the adrenal gland that makes stored nutrients more readily
available to meet energy demands. These hormone levels increase under stress, which can
stimulate your appetite, leading to weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
Cross training - An individualized combination of all aerobic-training methods, characterized by a
variety of intensities and modes.
Detraining Principle - This principle says that once consistent exercise stops, you will eventually
lose the strength that you built up. Without overload or maintenance, muscles will weaken in two
weeks or less.
Diastolic blood pressure - The pressure exerted by the blood on the vessel walls during the
resting portion of the cardiac cycle, measured in millimeters of mercury.The diastolic number is the
bottom of the fraction. 120/80 is an average value for normal blood pressure (80 is the diastolic
number). Mild high blood pressure is considered to be between 140/90 and 160/95. High blood
pressure is defined by a value greater than 160/95.
DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) - Muscle soreness or discomfort that appears 12 to 48
hours after exercise. It is most likely due to microscopic tears in the muscle tissue, and it usually
requires a couple of days for the repair and rebuilding process to be completed. The muscle
tissue grows back stronger, leading to increased muscle mass and strength.
Eccentric contraction - A lengthening of the muscle during its contraction; controls speed of
movement caused by another force.
Ectomorph - A body shape characterized by a narrow chest, narrow shoulders and long, thin
muscles.
Electrolytes - Salts (ions) found in bodily fluids. Pertaining to exercise, your body loses electrolytes
(sodium, potassium) when you sweat. These electrolytes need to be replaced to keep
concentrations constant in the body, which is why many sports drinks include electrolytes.
Endomorph - A body shape characterized by a round face, short neck , wide hips, and heavy fat
storage.
Endorphins - Opiate-like hormones that are manufactured in the body and contribute to natural
feelings of well-being.
EPOC (Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption) - This explains why your breathing rate
remains heavy for a few minutes after finishing a workout. Your body needs more oxygen after a
workout in order to restore the oxygen stores in the blood and tissues, and to meet the oxygen
requirements of the heart rate, which is still elevated.
Epinephrine - Also called adrenaline, a hormone that stimulates body systems in response to
stress.
Ergogenic aids - A substance, appliance, or procedure that improves athletic performance.
Eustress - Stress that presents opportunities for personal growth. (Exercise is an example of this.
It puts stress on the body and its systems, but the results of this stress are positive.)
Exercise metabolic rate (EMR) - The energy expenditure that occurs during exercise.
Fast twitch muscle fibers - Fibers that are better-suited for high-force, short duration activities
because they contain more stores for anaerobic energy utilization.
Fixed resistance - Strength training exercises that provide a constant amount of resistance
throughout the full range of motion. Examples include free weights and resistance bands.
Flexibility- The measure of the range of motion, or the amount of movement possible, at a
particular joint.
Graded Exercise Test (Incremental Exercise Test) - An exercise test involving a progressive
increase in work rate over time. Often graded exercise tests are used to determine the subject’s
maximum oxygen consumption or lactic threshold.
Heart Rate Reserve (HRR)- Difference between resting and maximal heart rate.
Heat Cramps - Muscle cramps that occur during or following exercise in warm or hot weather.
Heat exhaustion - A heat stress illness caused by significant dehydration resulting from exercise
in warm or hot conditions; frequent precursor to heat stroke.
Heat stroke - A deadly heat stress illness resulting from dehydration and overexertion in warm or
hot conditions; can cause body core temperature to rise from normal to 100 or 105 degrees
Fahrenheit in just a few minutes.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - Retrieves cholesterol from the body’s cells and returns it to the
liver to be metabolized. Also referred to as “good” cholesterol.
High impact - Activities that place more stress on the bones and joints, where your limbs are
actually making contact with the ground or other surface with force. Examples include: walking,
running, step aerobics, and sports that involve impact, like basketball or tennis.
Hydrostatic (underwater) weighing - This method of measuring body composition is considered
the “gold standard” and is based on the assumption that density and specific gravity of lean tissue
is greater than that of fat tissue. By comparing test subject’s mass measured underwater and out
of the water, body composition may be calculated.
Hyperplasia - An increase in the number of cells in a tissue; usually in reference to fat or muscle
cells.
Hypertrophy - An increase in cell size (girth), usually in reference to fat or muscle cells.
Hypothermia - A life-threatening condition in which heat is lost from the body faster than it is
produced.
Incremental Exercise Test (Graded Exercise Test) - An exercise test involving a progressive
increase in work rate over time. Often these tests are used to determine the subject’s maximum
oxygen consumption or lactic threshold.
Interval training - Repeated intervals of exercise interspersed with intervals of relatively light
exercise. This type of training provides a means of performing large amounts of high-intensity
exercise in a short period of time.
Isokinetic exercise - Exercise in which the rate of movement is constantly maintained through a
specific range of motion even though maximal force is exerted.
Isometric exercise - Any activity in which the muscles exert force but do not visibly change in
length. For example, pushing against a wall or carrying a bag of groceries.
Isotonic exercise- Any activity in which the muscles exert force and change in length as they lift and
lower resistance. For example, bicep curls or leg extensions.
Karvonen formula - One of the most effective methods used to calculate target heart rate. It factors
resting heart rate into the equation. See Exercise Intensity
Ketosis - A condition in which the body adapts to prolonged fasting or carbohydrate deprivation by
converting body fat to ketones, which can be used as fuel for some brain activity. The real danger in
ketosis is that ketones are acidic, and high levels of ketones make the blood abnormally acid.
Lactic acid - Waste substance that builds up in the muscles when they are not getting enough
oxygen, leading to muscle fatigue.
Lactic threshold - The point at which the level of lactic acid in the blood suddenly increases
(during exercise). This is a good indication of the highest sustainable work rate. Also known as
anaerobic threshold.
Lean mass - Total weight of your muscle, bone, and all other body organs. (Everything in the body
besides fat.)
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) - Transports cholesterol and triglycerides from the liver to be used
in various cellular processes. Also referred to as “bad” cholesterol.
Low impact - Activities that place less stress on the bones and joints. These are better for people
with joint pain, and overweight individuals whose weight can hurt their joints. Examples include:
swimming, elliptical, cycling, and other activities where your feet (or other body parts) aren’t
touching the ground with force or where you are somehow supported.
Max VO 2 - (V02 Max) Highest amount of oxygen one can consume during exercise. The higher
this number, the more you are cardiovascularly fit and capable of increased levels of intensity.
Mesomorph- A body shape characterized by a large chest, long torso, solid muscle structure and
significant strength.
MET- An expression of the energy it takes to sit quietly. It is frequently used as a measure of
intensity on cardiovascular machines (treadmill, stationary bike, etc.) For example, moderate
intensity activities are those that get you moving fast enough or strenuously enough to burn off
three to six times as much energy per minute as you do when you are sitting quietly, measured as
3-6 METs.
Moderate intensity - Activities that range from 40-60% of max heart rate. These activities cause a
slightly increased rate of breathing, and feel light to somewhat-hard. Individuals doing activity at
this intensity can easily carry on a conversation.
Muscle fibers - Individual muscle cells that are the functional components of muscles.
Muscular endurance - The ability of the muscle to perform repetitive contractions over a prolonged
period of time.
Muscular strength- The ability of the muscle to generate the maximum amount of force.
Obesity - A weight disorder generally defined as an accumulation of fat beyond that considered
normal for a person based on age, sex, and body type.
One-Rep Max (1 RM) - The amount of weight/resistance that can be lifted or moved once, but not
twice; a common measure of strength.
Opposing muscles- Muscles that work in opposition to the ones you are training. For example, the
bicep is the opposing muscle to the triceps; the hamstring is the opposing muscle to the
quadriceps.
Osteoporosis - A disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, which
increases risk of fracture.
Overload Principle - This principle says that in order to train muscles, they must work harder than
they are accustomed to. This “overload” will result in increased strength as the body adapts to the
stress placed upon it.
Overuse Injuries - Injuries that result from the cumulative effects of repetitive (day-after-day)
stresses placed on tendons, muscles, and joints.
Percent grade - Measure of the elevation of a treadmill.
Physical fitness - The ability to perform regular to vigorous physical activity without great fatigue.
Pilates - Exercise programs that combine stretching with movement against resistance, aided by
devices such as tension springs, heavy bands, and reformer machines.
Plateau - Point in an exercise program where no additional progress is being made (gains in
strength, weight loss, increased endurance, etc). One way to break through a plateau is to change
the kind of activity you are doing or something about your current activity- adding hills, increasing
speed, increasing distance, etc.
PNF stretching - Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching is a static stretch of a
muscle immediately after maximally contracting it.
Primary prevention - Actions designed to stop problems before they start.
Pronation -To turn or rotate (the foot) so that the inner edge of the sole bears the body's weight.
Plyometric training - Exercises that enable a muscle to reach maximal force production in as short
a time as possible. For example, jumping from a 3 ft. stool to the ground and immediately
springing back up to another stool.
Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) - Scale of 1-10 that rates how you are feeling (both physically
and mentally) as it relates to exercise fatigue.
Repetition- The number of times an exercise is repeated within a single exercise “set”.
Resistance training - See “Strength Training”
Resting HR - Rate at which your heart beats at rest (while sitting or being inactive). Low resting
heart rates are a good measure of health and fitness.
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR)- Number of calories expended to maintain the body during resting
conditions. Also referred to as basal metabolic rate.
Set - A basic unit of a workout containing the number of times (repetitions) a specific exercise is
done (e.g. do 3 sets of 5 repetitions with 100 pounds).
Shin splint - Generic term used to describe pain in the lower leg, either on the medial (inside) or
lateral side (outside) of the shin bone.
Sit and reach test - A common fitness test that determines flexibility (of the hamstrings and lower
back).
Skinfold caliper test - A method of determining body fat whereby folds of skin and fat at various
points on the body are grasped between thumb and forefinger and measured with calipers.
Skin fold measurements - This method of measuring body composition assumes that substantial
fat is proportional to overall body fat, and thus by measuring several sites, total body fat may be
calculated.
Slow twitch muscle fibers - Fibers that are better-suited for low-force, long duration activities
because they possess more endurance enzymes.
Specificity of Training Principle - This principle says that only the muscle or muscle group you
exercise will respond to the demands placed upon it. By regularly doing curls, for example, the
muscles involved (biceps) will become larger and stronger, but curls will have no effect on the
muscles that are not being trained. Therefore, when strength training, it is important to strengthen
all of the major muscles.
Static stretching - A low force, high-duration stretch where the muscle is held at the greatest
possible length for up to 30 seconds.
Strength training - (also called resistance training) The process of exercising with progressively
heavier resistance for the purpose of strengthening the musculoskeletal system.
Systolic blood pressure - The pressure exerted on the vessel walls during ventricular contraction,
measured in millimeters of mercury. The systolic number is the top of the fraction. 120/80 is an
average value for normal blood pressure (120 is the systolic number). Mild high blood pressure is
considered to be between 140/90 and 160/95. High blood pressure is defined by a value greater
than 160/95.
Tai chi - An ancient Chinese form of exercise, widely practiced in the West today, that promotes
balance, coordination, stretching, and meditation.
Talk test - Method to ensure you are working out at a level where you can answer a question but
not comfortably carry on a conversation. This is a good intensity level for weight loss and improved
physical fitness.
Tapering - The process athletes use to reduce their training load for several days prior to
competition.
Target heart rate (THR) - The recommended range is 60-85% of your maximum heart rate. It
represents a pace that ensures you are training aerobically and can reasonably be maintained.
See Exercise Intensity
Tension Principle - This principle says that tension is created by resistance, which can come from
weights, bands, machines, or body weight.
Testosterone - The steroid hormone produced in the testes; involved in growth and development
of muscle mass. Since men have more testosterone than women, they are able to gain muscle
mass more easily.
Thyroid - Endocrine gland located in the neck that secretes T3 and T4 (hormones), which increase
metabolic rate.
Type I fibers - Fibers that contain large numbers of oxidative enzymes and are highly fatigue
resistant (more prevalent in endurance athletes).
Type IIA fibers - Fibers that contain biochemical and fatigue characteristics that are between Type
IIB and Type I fibers (the best of both worlds).
Type IIB fibers - Fibers that have a relatively small number of mitochondria, a limited capacity for
aerobic metabolism, and are less resistant to fatigue than slow fibers (more prevalent in sprinters
and power lifters).
Variable resistance - Strength training exercises that change the amount of resistance throughout
the full range of motion.
Vigorous intensity - Activities above 60% of max heart rate. These activities cause an increased
rate of breathing, sweating, and feel somewhat-hard to hard.
Waist to hip ratio - A calculation of the proportion of fat stored on your body around your waist and
hips. Formula: waist measurement divided by hip measurement. Women should have a ratio of .8
or less; men should have a ratio of .95 or less.
Warm up - To prepare for an athletic event (whether a game or a workout session) by exercising,
stretching, or practicing for a short time beforehand.
Yoga - A variety of Indian traditions geared toward self-discipline and the realization of unity;
includes forms of exercise widely practiced in the West today that promote balance, coordination,
flexibility, and meditation.
and is rhythmic in nature ( American College of Sports Medicine). Exercise that increases the need
for oxygen. The term aerobic means “with oxygen”.
Agonist muscle - A muscle that is very effective in causing a certain joint movement. Also called
the prime mover.
Amenorrhea - The absence of menstruation, commonly found in women with a very low body fat
percentage.
Anaerobic exercise - Short lasting, high intensity activity, where the demand for oxygen from the
exercise exceeds the oxygen supply.
Angina pectoris - Chest pain due to lack of blood flow (oxygen) to the heart.
Antagonist muscle - A muscle that causes movement at a joint in a direction opposite to that of the
joint’s agonist (prime mover).
Beta-blockers - Type of medication that reduces heart rate. Exercisers who take beta-blockers will
have a lower heart rate at rest and during exercise, so the target heart rate formula cannot be used
in this case.
Bioelectrical impedance - This method of measuring body composition is based on the fact that
the lean tissue of the body is much more conductive due to its higher water content than fat tissue.
The more lean tissue present in the body, the greater the conductive potential, measured in ohms.
Body composition - Amount of fat vs. lean muscle tissue in the human body.
Body Mass Index (BMI) - Measure of the relationship between height and weight; calculated by
dividing weight in kilograms by height in centimeters squared. “Normal” BMI for women is 19-25%
and for men is 14-20%.
Caffeine - A stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and some soft drinks that increases heart
contractions, oxygen consumption, metabolism, and urinary output.
Calisthenics - Exercising using one’s own body weight which helps develop muscular tone.
Cardiorespiratory fitness - Measure of the heart’s ability to pump oxygen-rich blood to the
muscles. Also called cardiovascular or aerobic fitness.
Cardiovascular system - A complex system consisting of the heart and blood vessels; transports
nutrients, oxygen, and enzymes throughout the body and regulates temperature, water levels of
cells, and acidity levels of body components.
Circuit training - Takes the participant through a series of exercise stations (which could also
include strength training), with relatively brief rest intervals between each station. The purpose is to
keep the heart rate elevated near the aerobic level without dropping off. The number of stations
may range from 4 to 10.
Concentric muscle action - Force produced while the muscle is shortening in length.
Continuous training - This is the most common type of sustained aerobic exercise for fitness
improvement, slowly adding more time to the workout to increase endurance.
Cool down - Lowering of body temperature following vigorous exercise. The practice of cooling
down after exercise involves slowing down your level of activity gradually.
Core - Abdominals, lower back, obliques, hips and spine.
Cortisol - A hormone secreted by the adrenal gland that makes stored nutrients more readily
available to meet energy demands. These hormone levels increase under stress, which can
stimulate your appetite, leading to weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
Cross training - An individualized combination of all aerobic-training methods, characterized by a
variety of intensities and modes.
Detraining Principle - This principle says that once consistent exercise stops, you will eventually
lose the strength that you built up. Without overload or maintenance, muscles will weaken in two
weeks or less.
Diastolic blood pressure - The pressure exerted by the blood on the vessel walls during the
resting portion of the cardiac cycle, measured in millimeters of mercury.The diastolic number is the
bottom of the fraction. 120/80 is an average value for normal blood pressure (80 is the diastolic
number). Mild high blood pressure is considered to be between 140/90 and 160/95. High blood
pressure is defined by a value greater than 160/95.
DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) - Muscle soreness or discomfort that appears 12 to 48
hours after exercise. It is most likely due to microscopic tears in the muscle tissue, and it usually
requires a couple of days for the repair and rebuilding process to be completed. The muscle
tissue grows back stronger, leading to increased muscle mass and strength.
Eccentric contraction - A lengthening of the muscle during its contraction; controls speed of
movement caused by another force.
Ectomorph - A body shape characterized by a narrow chest, narrow shoulders and long, thin
muscles.
Electrolytes - Salts (ions) found in bodily fluids. Pertaining to exercise, your body loses electrolytes
(sodium, potassium) when you sweat. These electrolytes need to be replaced to keep
concentrations constant in the body, which is why many sports drinks include electrolytes.
Endomorph - A body shape characterized by a round face, short neck , wide hips, and heavy fat
storage.
Endorphins - Opiate-like hormones that are manufactured in the body and contribute to natural
feelings of well-being.
EPOC (Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption) - This explains why your breathing rate
remains heavy for a few minutes after finishing a workout. Your body needs more oxygen after a
workout in order to restore the oxygen stores in the blood and tissues, and to meet the oxygen
requirements of the heart rate, which is still elevated.
Epinephrine - Also called adrenaline, a hormone that stimulates body systems in response to
stress.
Ergogenic aids - A substance, appliance, or procedure that improves athletic performance.
Eustress - Stress that presents opportunities for personal growth. (Exercise is an example of this.
It puts stress on the body and its systems, but the results of this stress are positive.)
Exercise metabolic rate (EMR) - The energy expenditure that occurs during exercise.
Fast twitch muscle fibers - Fibers that are better-suited for high-force, short duration activities
because they contain more stores for anaerobic energy utilization.
Fixed resistance - Strength training exercises that provide a constant amount of resistance
throughout the full range of motion. Examples include free weights and resistance bands.
Flexibility- The measure of the range of motion, or the amount of movement possible, at a
particular joint.
Graded Exercise Test (Incremental Exercise Test) - An exercise test involving a progressive
increase in work rate over time. Often graded exercise tests are used to determine the subject’s
maximum oxygen consumption or lactic threshold.
Heart Rate Reserve (HRR)- Difference between resting and maximal heart rate.
Heat Cramps - Muscle cramps that occur during or following exercise in warm or hot weather.
Heat exhaustion - A heat stress illness caused by significant dehydration resulting from exercise
in warm or hot conditions; frequent precursor to heat stroke.
Heat stroke - A deadly heat stress illness resulting from dehydration and overexertion in warm or
hot conditions; can cause body core temperature to rise from normal to 100 or 105 degrees
Fahrenheit in just a few minutes.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - Retrieves cholesterol from the body’s cells and returns it to the
liver to be metabolized. Also referred to as “good” cholesterol.
High impact - Activities that place more stress on the bones and joints, where your limbs are
actually making contact with the ground or other surface with force. Examples include: walking,
running, step aerobics, and sports that involve impact, like basketball or tennis.
Hydrostatic (underwater) weighing - This method of measuring body composition is considered
the “gold standard” and is based on the assumption that density and specific gravity of lean tissue
is greater than that of fat tissue. By comparing test subject’s mass measured underwater and out
of the water, body composition may be calculated.
Hyperplasia - An increase in the number of cells in a tissue; usually in reference to fat or muscle
cells.
Hypertrophy - An increase in cell size (girth), usually in reference to fat or muscle cells.
Hypothermia - A life-threatening condition in which heat is lost from the body faster than it is
produced.
Incremental Exercise Test (Graded Exercise Test) - An exercise test involving a progressive
increase in work rate over time. Often these tests are used to determine the subject’s maximum
oxygen consumption or lactic threshold.
Interval training - Repeated intervals of exercise interspersed with intervals of relatively light
exercise. This type of training provides a means of performing large amounts of high-intensity
exercise in a short period of time.
Isokinetic exercise - Exercise in which the rate of movement is constantly maintained through a
specific range of motion even though maximal force is exerted.
Isometric exercise - Any activity in which the muscles exert force but do not visibly change in
length. For example, pushing against a wall or carrying a bag of groceries.
Isotonic exercise- Any activity in which the muscles exert force and change in length as they lift and
lower resistance. For example, bicep curls or leg extensions.
Karvonen formula - One of the most effective methods used to calculate target heart rate. It factors
resting heart rate into the equation. See Exercise Intensity
Ketosis - A condition in which the body adapts to prolonged fasting or carbohydrate deprivation by
converting body fat to ketones, which can be used as fuel for some brain activity. The real danger in
ketosis is that ketones are acidic, and high levels of ketones make the blood abnormally acid.
Lactic acid - Waste substance that builds up in the muscles when they are not getting enough
oxygen, leading to muscle fatigue.
Lactic threshold - The point at which the level of lactic acid in the blood suddenly increases
(during exercise). This is a good indication of the highest sustainable work rate. Also known as
anaerobic threshold.
Lean mass - Total weight of your muscle, bone, and all other body organs. (Everything in the body
besides fat.)
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) - Transports cholesterol and triglycerides from the liver to be used
in various cellular processes. Also referred to as “bad” cholesterol.
Low impact - Activities that place less stress on the bones and joints. These are better for people
with joint pain, and overweight individuals whose weight can hurt their joints. Examples include:
swimming, elliptical, cycling, and other activities where your feet (or other body parts) aren’t
touching the ground with force or where you are somehow supported.
Max VO 2 - (V02 Max) Highest amount of oxygen one can consume during exercise. The higher
this number, the more you are cardiovascularly fit and capable of increased levels of intensity.
Mesomorph- A body shape characterized by a large chest, long torso, solid muscle structure and
significant strength.
MET- An expression of the energy it takes to sit quietly. It is frequently used as a measure of
intensity on cardiovascular machines (treadmill, stationary bike, etc.) For example, moderate
intensity activities are those that get you moving fast enough or strenuously enough to burn off
three to six times as much energy per minute as you do when you are sitting quietly, measured as
3-6 METs.
Moderate intensity - Activities that range from 40-60% of max heart rate. These activities cause a
slightly increased rate of breathing, and feel light to somewhat-hard. Individuals doing activity at
this intensity can easily carry on a conversation.
Muscle fibers - Individual muscle cells that are the functional components of muscles.
Muscular endurance - The ability of the muscle to perform repetitive contractions over a prolonged
period of time.
Muscular strength- The ability of the muscle to generate the maximum amount of force.
Obesity - A weight disorder generally defined as an accumulation of fat beyond that considered
normal for a person based on age, sex, and body type.
One-Rep Max (1 RM) - The amount of weight/resistance that can be lifted or moved once, but not
twice; a common measure of strength.
Opposing muscles- Muscles that work in opposition to the ones you are training. For example, the
bicep is the opposing muscle to the triceps; the hamstring is the opposing muscle to the
quadriceps.
Osteoporosis - A disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, which
increases risk of fracture.
Overload Principle - This principle says that in order to train muscles, they must work harder than
they are accustomed to. This “overload” will result in increased strength as the body adapts to the
stress placed upon it.
Overuse Injuries - Injuries that result from the cumulative effects of repetitive (day-after-day)
stresses placed on tendons, muscles, and joints.
Percent grade - Measure of the elevation of a treadmill.
Physical fitness - The ability to perform regular to vigorous physical activity without great fatigue.
Pilates - Exercise programs that combine stretching with movement against resistance, aided by
devices such as tension springs, heavy bands, and reformer machines.
Plateau - Point in an exercise program where no additional progress is being made (gains in
strength, weight loss, increased endurance, etc). One way to break through a plateau is to change
the kind of activity you are doing or something about your current activity- adding hills, increasing
speed, increasing distance, etc.
PNF stretching - Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching is a static stretch of a
muscle immediately after maximally contracting it.
Primary prevention - Actions designed to stop problems before they start.
Pronation -To turn or rotate (the foot) so that the inner edge of the sole bears the body's weight.
Plyometric training - Exercises that enable a muscle to reach maximal force production in as short
a time as possible. For example, jumping from a 3 ft. stool to the ground and immediately
springing back up to another stool.
Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) - Scale of 1-10 that rates how you are feeling (both physically
and mentally) as it relates to exercise fatigue.
Repetition- The number of times an exercise is repeated within a single exercise “set”.
Resistance training - See “Strength Training”
Resting HR - Rate at which your heart beats at rest (while sitting or being inactive). Low resting
heart rates are a good measure of health and fitness.
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR)- Number of calories expended to maintain the body during resting
conditions. Also referred to as basal metabolic rate.
Set - A basic unit of a workout containing the number of times (repetitions) a specific exercise is
done (e.g. do 3 sets of 5 repetitions with 100 pounds).
Shin splint - Generic term used to describe pain in the lower leg, either on the medial (inside) or
lateral side (outside) of the shin bone.
Sit and reach test - A common fitness test that determines flexibility (of the hamstrings and lower
back).
Skinfold caliper test - A method of determining body fat whereby folds of skin and fat at various
points on the body are grasped between thumb and forefinger and measured with calipers.
Skin fold measurements - This method of measuring body composition assumes that substantial
fat is proportional to overall body fat, and thus by measuring several sites, total body fat may be
calculated.
Slow twitch muscle fibers - Fibers that are better-suited for low-force, long duration activities
because they possess more endurance enzymes.
Specificity of Training Principle - This principle says that only the muscle or muscle group you
exercise will respond to the demands placed upon it. By regularly doing curls, for example, the
muscles involved (biceps) will become larger and stronger, but curls will have no effect on the
muscles that are not being trained. Therefore, when strength training, it is important to strengthen
all of the major muscles.
Static stretching - A low force, high-duration stretch where the muscle is held at the greatest
possible length for up to 30 seconds.
Strength training - (also called resistance training) The process of exercising with progressively
heavier resistance for the purpose of strengthening the musculoskeletal system.
Systolic blood pressure - The pressure exerted on the vessel walls during ventricular contraction,
measured in millimeters of mercury. The systolic number is the top of the fraction. 120/80 is an
average value for normal blood pressure (120 is the systolic number). Mild high blood pressure is
considered to be between 140/90 and 160/95. High blood pressure is defined by a value greater
than 160/95.
Tai chi - An ancient Chinese form of exercise, widely practiced in the West today, that promotes
balance, coordination, stretching, and meditation.
Talk test - Method to ensure you are working out at a level where you can answer a question but
not comfortably carry on a conversation. This is a good intensity level for weight loss and improved
physical fitness.
Tapering - The process athletes use to reduce their training load for several days prior to
competition.
Target heart rate (THR) - The recommended range is 60-85% of your maximum heart rate. It
represents a pace that ensures you are training aerobically and can reasonably be maintained.
See Exercise Intensity
Tension Principle - This principle says that tension is created by resistance, which can come from
weights, bands, machines, or body weight.
Testosterone - The steroid hormone produced in the testes; involved in growth and development
of muscle mass. Since men have more testosterone than women, they are able to gain muscle
mass more easily.
Thyroid - Endocrine gland located in the neck that secretes T3 and T4 (hormones), which increase
metabolic rate.
Type I fibers - Fibers that contain large numbers of oxidative enzymes and are highly fatigue
resistant (more prevalent in endurance athletes).
Type IIA fibers - Fibers that contain biochemical and fatigue characteristics that are between Type
IIB and Type I fibers (the best of both worlds).
Type IIB fibers - Fibers that have a relatively small number of mitochondria, a limited capacity for
aerobic metabolism, and are less resistant to fatigue than slow fibers (more prevalent in sprinters
and power lifters).
Variable resistance - Strength training exercises that change the amount of resistance throughout
the full range of motion.
Vigorous intensity - Activities above 60% of max heart rate. These activities cause an increased
rate of breathing, sweating, and feel somewhat-hard to hard.
Waist to hip ratio - A calculation of the proportion of fat stored on your body around your waist and
hips. Formula: waist measurement divided by hip measurement. Women should have a ratio of .8
or less; men should have a ratio of .95 or less.
Warm up - To prepare for an athletic event (whether a game or a workout session) by exercising,
stretching, or practicing for a short time beforehand.
Yoga - A variety of Indian traditions geared toward self-discipline and the realization of unity;
includes forms of exercise widely practiced in the West today that promote balance, coordination,
flexibility, and meditation.
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