09/09/2015
The Seven Components of a Good Fitness Program
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend regular aerobic exercise and resistance training weekly for improved health. A quality fitness program will also include five other components: core work, balance, flexibility, agility and neuromotor, or functional, training. You don't have to spend dozens of hours at the gym to fit in all of these activities -- in a well-designed program, the components often overlap. By including the seven components, you'll reduce your risk of injury and achieve a well-rounded fitness profile.
Cardio
Cardio training involves movements such as jogging, cycling, swimming and dancing done for a continuous amount of time. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, or 60 to 180 minutes of vigorous-intensity cardio exercise weekly. Moderate-intensity exercise keeps your heart rate in the 55 to 70 percent of maximum range, while vigorous-intensity registers between 70 and 90 percent of maximum. Cardio training improves your stamina, heart and respiratory health, as well as burns calories.
Resistance
Resistance training includes any muscle-building exercise using your body weight, resistance tubing, free weights or weight machines. You need to do resistance training for all the major muscle groups, including the legs, hips, back, chest, arms, shoulders and abs, at least two times per week. Start with one set of eight to 12 repetitions of an exercise for each of these groups, but working your way up to three or more sets will provide greater benefit. Resistance training helps you fight the natural loss of muscle tissue that occurs with age. It also boosts your metabolism and helps you stay independent as you age.
Core
Core work overlaps with strength training, with a special emphasis on the muscles that are located around your trunk and hips. The core muscles support your spine and create a strong axis from which all your other movement extends. Work your core with moves such as plank holds, cable rotations and kettlebell swings. Core work can be done in conjunction with resistance training; aim to work the muscles at least two times per week.
Flexibility
ACSM notes that flexibility exercise is an important component of a fitness program because it helps enhance range of motion. Incorporate a stretching routine at least two times per week, holding stretches for your major muscle groups for 10 to 30 seconds at time. Repeat the holds until each muscle has accumulated at least 60 seconds per stretch. You don't have to set aside a separate time to perform flexibility work; slip in a five- to 10-minute session at the end of a cardio or strength routine so you benefit from already-warm muscles.
Balance
A fitness program that incorporates balance training helps you stave off the natural loss of balance that occurs with age. Balance training can overlap with strength and core training. To incorporate it into your routine, try performing biceps curls or shoulder presses while standing on a balancing disc or a half ball. Balance training can also be part of your everyday routine, such as brushing your teeth or washing the dishes while standing on one leg.
Agility
Agility refers to your ability to control your body and change direction during motion. Honing agility helps a tennis player return balls more effectively or a football player avoid a tackle. Agility can also help you dodge around a pile of toys your kids left on the floor or quickly avert an unforeseen hazard on the sidewalk. Work on agility during cardio by incorporating sideways and turning moves or by running on trails. Kickboxing classes, racquetball and dance are other ways to enhance agility.
Neuromotor
Neuromotor exercise is what fitness professionals often refer to as "functional" training. It overlaps somewhat with agility and balance training, but includes a whole gamut of proprioceptive training. Proprioception is the ability to sense where the body is in space. Honing proprioception helps seniors prevent falls, improves coordination for dancers and athletes and enables the average person to move more gracefully and efficiently through life. Examples of neuromotor exercise include tai chi, yoga and tossing a medicine ball to a partner. ACSM recommends 20 minutes of neuromuscular exercise daily.