Health INSIGHT
Principles of
Fitness Training
I
by Terry L Gray, CPT
n last month’s column, discussed were
the four main components of general
fitness training: cardiorespiratory
conditioning, muscular endurance,
muscular strength and flexibility. It was
emphasized as to how important it is
that each of these areas receives proper
attention in one’s quest for overall
general fitness. However, there are some
general principles that must be applied
in all these areas in order for an optimum
training effect and, hence, optimum
results, to occur. Nine principles will
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be discussed in this and next month’s
column. The proper utilization of and
adherence to these principles will result
in much greater progress toward your
fitness goals, no matter what they are.
1. The principle of overload. This
principle basically states that in order for
progress to continually occur in any of
the general fitness components, the body
as a whole—and specifically the fitness
component under consideration—must
be subjected to stresses beyond what it is
April 2014
INSIGHT