Fitness Glossary: Definitions of Key Terms for Exercise and Health
Aerobic fitness (Capacidad aeróbica): A measure of how well your blood transports oxygen around the body, and how well your muscles utilize the oxygen.–Aerobic metabolism (Metabolismo aeróbico): The metabolic process that occurs in the cells, by which the body uses oxygen to produce energy.–Aerobic (Aeróbico): Meaning with oxygen. Aerobic training is at a lower intensity, with the purpose of stimulating aerobic metabolism to improve.–Aerobic endurance (Resistencia aeróbica): A term for someone’s aerobic fitness capacity – their ability to do prolonged exercise without fatigue.–Anaerobic (Anaeróbico): Anaerobic processes occur in the cells of the body without the presence of oxygen. Anaerobic training is of high intensity and short duration, with the aim of the efficiency of the body’s anaerobic energy-producing systems.–Anaerobic Threshold (Umbral anaeróbico): The physiological point during exercise at which lactic acid starts to accumulate in the muscles. It occurs around the point of the exercise intensity increasing such that anaerobic processes are becoming more dominant.–Basal metabolic rate (BMR) (Índice Metabólico Basal): The lowest rate of body metabolism (rate of energy use) that can sustain life, measured after a full night’s sleep in a laboratory under optimal conditions of quiet, rest and relaxation.–Body composition (Composición corporal): Has two components: the amount of fat mass (weight) and the amount of fat-free mass (muscle, bone, skin and organs) in the body.–Body mass index (BMI) (Índice de masa corporal): A number calculated using a person’s height and mass, which gives an indication of total body fat content.–Bpm, beats per minute (Pulsaciones por minuto): The units of heart rate, the number of heart beats each minute.–Cardiorespiratory (Cardiorespiratorio): Concerning the heart and respiratory system. (Cardiorespiratory or Cardiovascular endurance is a term used interchangeably with aerobic endurance).–Cardiovascular (Cardiovascular): Concerning the heart and blood vessels.–Cholesterol (Colesterol): Fatty lipid found in the body. Almost insoluble in water. A build up in the blood stream can lead to health issues as it reduces and blocks the blood flow.–Circulation (Circulación): The continuing process of transporting blood around the body, maintained by the heart.–Cramp (Calambre): Sudden, painful, involuntary spasm of a muscle, that usually occurs due to excessive use. Pain eases once the affected area has been stretched. –Dehydration (Deshidratación): A decrease in body fluids.–Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) (Dolor muscular de aparición tardía (DMAT) o Dolor muscular postesfuerzo de aparición tardía (DOMPAT) (Nombre técnico para“Agujetas”): Is a term used to describe the pain felt within a muscle or group of muscles, a day or two after strenuous exercise. (Nombre común para “Agujetas”: “Stiffness”–Ectomorph (Ectomorfo): Body shape where the individual is long, lean, with narrow shoulders and hips, and have little body fat or muscles.–Electrocardiogram (ECG) (Electrocardiograma): A recording of the heart’s electrical activity by placing wires on the anterior chest wall.–Endomorph (Endomorfo): Body shape of individuals that are short, with wide hips and are of large proportions. They can gain weight easily and have a more rounded shape.–Endurance (Resistencia): The body’s ability to exercise with minimal fatigue. Often used with other terms such as; endurance training, muscular endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance.–Fat-free mass (Masa libre de grasa): The combined mass of the body of everything that is not fat (e.g. muscle, bone, skin and organs).
–Glycogen (Glucógeno): The form in which carbohydrates are stored in the body. Primary sites for storage are the muscles and the liver.–Kilocalorie (kcal) (Kilocaloría): A measure of the energy value in food and physical activity. “Kilocalorie” is the more accurate term for the commonly used abbreviation “Calorie.” –Kilojoule (kJ) (Kilojulio): The SI unit for a measure of the energy value, for example in food and physical activity.–Heart rate (Ritmocardíaco): A measurement of the work done by the heart, commonly expressed as the number of beats per minute (bpm).–Lactate, Lactic acid (Lactato, Ácido láctico): Lactate is a salt formed from lactic acid. Anaerobic exercise produces lactic acid, which quickly forms lactate in the muscles. Because of this, the terms “lactate” and “lactic acid” are often used interchangeably.–Lactate threshold (Umbral de lactato): The point during increasingly intensive exercise at which blood lactate (Lactic acid) begins to accumulate above resting levels.–Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (Consumo máximo de oxígeno): The maximum capacity for oxygen consumption by the body during maximum exercise. Also known as aerobic power or maximal oxygen intake/consumption. VO2max is commonly used as a measure of aerobic fitness.–Maximum heart rate (Frecuencia cardíaca máxima): The highest number of heart beats per minute (bpm) when exercising maximally.–Mesomorph (Mesomorfo): Body shape of people with wide shoulders, narrow waist and a muscular build. They body forms a triangle shape.–Oxygen Consumption (Consumo de Oxígeno):Oxygen consumption (VO2) may be defined as ones ability to extract oxygen from the atmosphere via the respiratory system and transport it in the blood to the working tissues (eg. muscles) for the energy production by the oxidation of carbohydrate and fat. The highest rate at which you can uptake oxygen is termed the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Research has shown VO2max to be one of the most important determinants of aerobic or endurance performance.–Protein (Proteína): Nutrient found in foods. Required by the body to fight infection and rebuild muscles and organs after exercise, illness or injury.–Repetition (number of) (Repetición)The amount of repetitions to be completed consecutively, in order to complete a set.–Respiratory Exchange Ratio (Tasa de intercambio respiratorio): The ratio of the amount of carbon dioxide produced by the body to the amount of oxygen consumed. At rest it ranges from 0.6 to 1.0 depending on what fuels the body is using. During exercise, it may go above 1, and can be used to measure anaerobic threshold and indicate when VO2max is reached.–Resting heart rate (Ritmocardíaco en reposo): The number of heart beats in one minute (bpm) when a person is at complete rest. A person’s resting heart rate decreases as they become more fit.–Resting metabolic rate (RMR) (Tasa metabólica en reposo): The body’s metabolic rate (rate of energy use) in rested conditions. This is different than Basal metabolic rate, which is measured after more restricted conditions.–RICE METHOD(para Tratamiento de Lesiones)(Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) “Descanso, Hielo, Compresión y Elevación)–Stamina (Resistencia): Physical ability to withstand the onset of fatigue.–Strain (Torcedura/Esguince/ también Tensión): Painful laceration of a ligament or muscle due to over stretching.–Stretching (Estiramiento): The process of extending muscles to a longer length in preparation for exercise or activity. Type of stretching can be static, dynamic or PNF.–Training programme (Programa de Entrenamiento): A pre-determined schedule of exercises designed to progressively improve an aspect of an individuals’ fitness.–VO2, VO2max (Consumo (máximo) de oxígeno) (capacidad aeróbica): VO2 is a measure of the oxygen consumption/uptake by the body. It is usually expressed in the units ml.kg-1.min-1, sometimes in l.min-1. The measured maximum VO2 is called VO2max.–Warm up (Calentamiento): The preparation for physical activity. To prepare the body physically and mentally for what will be undertaken.–Work out (Hacerejercicio): a trial or practice session in athletics, as in running, boxing, or football.–Work rate (Rendimiento físico): Level of effort sustained over the duration of a game.–Wound (Herida): An injury to tissues caused by impact with a foreign object.
eign object.