FitnessGram BMI standards for youth take into account age and sex as determined by the Centers for Disease Control. BMI cannot measure fat directly, but it can help assess health risks related to a body weight that is too great or too little for the height. The BMI is based on weight relative to height and essentially indicates if the weight is appropriate for the height. Therefore, FitnessGram also provides standards for a widely-used alternative indicator of body composition known as Body Mass Index (BMI). Although an assessment of percent body fat utilizing a bioelectric impendence device or skin-fold assessment would be ideal, practical application in schools is very difficult. Therefore, by maintaining a healthy weight a child can potentially reduce their future risk of health problems.įitnessGram body composition standards are based on percent body fat. Overweight youth are at a higher risk for becoming overweight adults. Some body fat is needed for overall good health, but too much can lead to health problems, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. FitnessGram believes it is important to educate youth and parents about appropriate levels of body composition. Fat-free body weight includes bones and muscles. Most important, helping children and youth be aware of the status of their muscular strength, endurance and flexibility can carry forward into adulthood, preventing health concerns and improving quality of life.īody composition describes what part of total body weight is fat, and what part is fat free. Musculoskeletal fitness helps an individual perform daily activities more easily, reduces the risk of injury, and improves abdominal and back health. Flexibility describes the range of motion of muscles at the joint.įitnessGram recommends tests of the upper body and the abdominal/trunk areas to assess musculoskeletal fitness because of their relationship to activities of daily living, good posture, and back health.įitnessGram Tests Abdominal Strength & Endurance.Muscular endurance is the ability to sustain, or repeat muscular activity, over time.Muscular strength is the maximal force your muscles can exert in a single effort.FitnessGram® tests these three areas to assess the functional health status of the musculoskeletal system. The long term benefits of endurance training in those with spinal cord injury has not been adequately studied, but there is suggestion that similar physiological and psychological changes may occur as in able-bodied individuals.Test components for the musculoskeletal system are broken down into three primary areas: muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility. There is no evidence that intense training and competition is harmful, but special areas of risk as a result of impairments in sensation, cardiovascular function, autonomic function and temperature regulation must be considered. These guidelines can be followed during participation in a number of different activities and sports including wheelchair pushing, arm crank ergometry, aerobic swimming, ambulation training, canoeing and wheelchair basketball. Based upon the positive results of these studies, the general endurance training guidelines for the normal population appear to also be appropriate for the spinal cord injured population. Review of 13 cardiorespiratory training studies involving spinal cord injured subjects revealed average improvements of 20% in VO2max and 40% in physical work capacity after 4 to 20 weeks of training. However, endurance training in quadriplegics and paraplegics can elicit improvements in exercise performance similar to those observed in able-bodied individuals. Sympathetic nervous system impairment limits control of regional blood flow and cardiac output, and maximum heart rate following cervical lesions may be reduced to 110 to 130 beats/min. Work capacity in those with spinal cord injury is limited by loss of functional muscle mass and sympathetic control. Muscular strengththe amount of force a muscle or muscle group can exert against a resistance. As this occurs, there is a reduction in functional work capacity which may limit independence, and the reduction in cardiovascular fitness may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular fitnessalso known as cardiorespiratory fitness, is the ability of the heart, lungs, and vascular system to deliver oxygen-rich blood to working muscles during sustained physical activity. Ordinary daily activities of those with spinal cord injury are usually not adequate to maintain cardiovascular fitness, and lack of participation in a regular activity programme may result in a debilitative cycle. With the growing interest in exercise and sport and the significance of cardiovascular disease in the spinal cord injured population, the role of endurance training in improving cardiovascular health is of particular interest.
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