Health / Fitness Glossary

Abdominal Muscles: A set of eight small muscles located below the chest. These eight muscles help people to bend forward and twist side to side. This set of muscles also assist in regular breathing as well as . . . View Full Definition

Abduction: Movement of a limb away from middle of body, such as bringing arms to shoulder height from hanging down position.

Abductors: Muscles in your hip that pull the legs apart. Gluteus and minimus pull the legs out away from the center, inline skating, skiing and dance activities use the muscles the most.

Abs: Abbreviation for abdominal muscles. A set of eight small muscles located below the chest. These eight muscles help people to bend forward and twist side to side. This set of muscles also ass . . . View Full Definition

Absolute Strength: The highest amount of weight a person can lift in one repetition.

Accommodating Resistance: This is the increase in resistance through the range of motion. Nautilus machines are designed to provide accommodating resistance.

Acquired Aging: Gaining the characteristics commonly associated with growing older or aging, but are usually caused by living an immobile life. To prevent acquired aging people need to stay active.

Active Stretch: Muscles are stretched using the contraction of the opposing muscle, (antagonist). For an example stretching the triceps, requires the biceps to contract.

Adduction: Movement of a limb towards the center of the body. When you lower an extended arm from above your head to your side, this would be considered adduction

Adenosine Diphospahate (ADP): ADP is formed when ATP is broken down within the bodies cell furnace, (the mitochondria). This provides energy for muscular contraction.

Adhesion: Fibrous band of scar tissue that holds together muscles or other parts that are normally separated.

Aerobic Capacity: Another term for maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 Max)

Aerobic Exercise: Exercise designed to enhance circulatory and respiratory system by performing an activity that involves a large group of muscles, such as cycling, running, swimming, jogging, or walking, the . . . View Full Definition

Agonist: Muscle directly engaged in contraction that is primarily responsible for movement of a body part.

All Natural: Athletes, especially body builders who can avoid using steroids or other banned substances.

All-Or-None: Muscle fibre contracts fully or it does not contract at all.

American Federation Of Women Bodybuilders (AFWB): Group that administers women's amateur bodybuilding in America.

American Physique Committee (APC): Group that administers men's amateur bodybuilding in America.

Amino Acids: Twenty- two basic building blocks of the body that make up proteins.

Anabolic: The term used to describe the body's ability to build muscle tissue.

Anabolic Steroid: Synthetic chemical that mimics the muscle building characteristics of the male hormone testosterone.

Anaerobic Exercise: Activities in which oxygen demands of muscles are so high that they rely upon an internal metabolic process for oxygen, resulting in lactic acid build up. Short bursts of 'all-out' activitie . . . View Full Definition

Anaerobic Threshold: The point at which your body switches from using oxygen as its primary source of energy to using stored sugar. When you’re in poor physical shape, you hit your anaerobic threshold while exer . . . View Full Definition

Angina Pectoris: Chest or arm pain resulting from reduced oxygen supply to the heart muscle.

Antagonist: Muscle that counteracts the agonist, lengthening when the agonist muscle contracts.

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