Visiting from the US? Fitness glossary
Published: 14-04-2009 | Updated: 22-04-2012Welcome to our health and fitness glossary where we add definitions of common terms used throughout Fitstream.
Browse by letter: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Abductors
Muscles that pull your legs from the midline of the body and away from one another.
Adductors
Muscles that pull your legs together into the midline of the body.
AMRAP
AMRAP is a fitness acronym for As Many Rounds / Reps as Possible. Commonly used by CrossFit.
Atrophy
A decrease in muscle size.
Also see: Hypertrophy, Hyperplasia.
BMI
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a way of of measuring body fat based on a persons height and weight. See Fitstream's BMI Calculator to help measure yours.
Bumper Plates
Solid rubber composition Olympic weight plates to fit the Olympic bar. Bumper plates are safer and quieter than steel, and won't destroy your floor.
Cadence
The beat, rate, or measure of rhythmic motion. In a fitness context this may be used as a measure of the speed of pedalling a bike.
Calisthenics
Calisthenics is a form of exercise consisting of a simple movements that are usually performed without equipment, using bodyweight as resistance and are intended to increase body strength, endurance and flexibility, e.g. push-ups.
Circuit training
An efficient form of conditioning workout, combining aerobic exercise with strength training, moving from station to station in quick successsion.
Circuit training is effective for building strength and muscular endurance, whilst enhancing fat loss.
Complex training
Complex training is a combination of traditional strength exercise followed by a matching plyometric exercise during a workout e.g. Squats followed by box jumps or the bench press followed by a plyometric push-up.
This training technique results in improved power and rate of force development.
Compound
An exercise classification relating to manoeuvres that involve two or more joints e.g. bench press, which involves shoulder and elbow joints.
See other exercise classifications: Isolation, Push, Pull
CrossFit
A core strength and conditioning program that prescribes "constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movement”.
See - CrossFit Guide.
Dietetics
The study of nutrition and the effect diet has on the body.
DOMS
DOMS is an acronym for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and refers to the pain and stiffness felt in muscles that's felt after unaccustomed or strenuous exercise.
False Grip
A method of gripping gymnastics rings (or a bar) to improve the ability to perform advanced exercises like the muscle-up. This grip makes the transition a little easier when moving from below gymnastic rings, to above the rings.
In a false grip the base of the palms sits on top of the rings. It can be an awkward technique to learn for the beginner and usually requires practice and developments in wrist strength.
Fartlek
The term Fartlek means "speed play" in Swedish and refers to a form of unstructured interval training that doesn't use an exact measure of intensity or speed, simply performing intervals whenever an athlete wishes.
Foam Roller
High-density cylindrical foam training aid used for stretching and warm-up exercises, self-massage, muscular flexibility, physiotherapy, and balance / core stabilisation training.
Foam rollers improve muscular alignment, posture and aid workout recovery times.
See - Foam Rollers in Fitstream store.
Functional Training / Functional Fitness
Functional strength training involves training in such a way that directly enhances the performance of movements to benefit everyday activities.
Functional training is not driven by aesthetics or size but by performance and capability.
Girya
Original Russian name for kettlebells. Kettlebells are weights resembling a cannonball with a handle, used to perform ballistic exercises which combine cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training.
See - Kettlebell articles.
General Physical Preparedness (GPP)
Development of total fitness across the ten widely recognised general physical skills: Speed, agility, accuracy, balance, coordination, cardiovascular, flexibility, power, strength, stamina.
Heart rate
The number of times a persons heart beats per minute.
Hyperplasia
An increase in muscle cell number.
Also see: Hypertrophy, Atrophy
Hypertrophy
An increase in muscle size.
Also see: Atrophy, Hyperplasia
Interval training
A form of physical training in which athletes practice bursts of high-intesity exercises, followed by periods of low-intensity work.
Isolation movements (Exercise Classification)
Exercises that involve only one joint but can involve multiple muscles e.g. biceps curl.
See other exercise classifications: Compound, Push, Pull
Kettlebell / Kettlebell Training
Exercising with a kettlebell, a piece of training equipment resembling a cannonball with a handle. These weights are effectively used to perform ballistic exercises which combine cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training.
Kettlebells have been around for centuries in Eastern Europe and are now part of mainstream fitness routines across the world.
See - Kettlebell articles or kettlebell exercises, kettlebells in our store, and "Girya" (the original russian name for the kettlebell).
Kipping
A technique that may be used for the pull-ups exercise in which the legs are used as a forceful initial movement to help raise the body up.
When hanging from the bar, the legs are swung backwards to build momentum, and then swing forward while pulling the body up with the arms. Kipping pull-ups is a very powerful technique that makes pull-ups easier to achieve.
Note: Traditional pull-ups rely soley on upper body strength with no swinging or kipping.
Macebell
Strength training equipment used to strengthen grip, shoulder girdle, balance, and core body by various swining exercises and static holds. A macebell resembells a cannonball welded to a long pole.
See - Macebell equipment.
Marathon
A 26.2 mile race for runners and walkers.
MMA
Mixed Martial Arts - the professional sport formerly known as cage-fighting.
See - MMA Guide.
Muscular failure
During a strength training program, muscular failure is the point at which athletes can no longer perform another repetition with good form, due to fatigue.
Olympic Weightlifting
Also known as Olympic-style weightlifting or simply weightlifting, is a professional sport in which participants attempt to lift a maximum weight single lift of a barbell loaded with weight plates.
Olympic weightlifting consists of two exercises - the clean and jerk, and the snatch.
Orthotics
Shoe inserts designed by a Podiatrist to correct weight distribution across the foot.
Parallettes
Gymnastic equipment used for bodyweight training that are similar to the parallel bars. They can be used to develop incredible strength from exercises like V-Sits, handstand presses and dips.
See - Make your own parallettes guide, or parallettes available to buy.
Periodization
A physical training program in which workouts are arranged into several periods, each lasting around 4 weeks, each phase having a different focus.
POOD
Russian measure used for kettlebells; 1 pood =36 lbs; 1.5 pood = 54 lbs; 2 pood = 72 lbs.
Powerlifting
A strength sport resembling Olympic Weightlifting consisting of three main exercises - the squat, the bench press and the deadlift.
PR
Fitness acronym for Personal Record, an individuals highest achievement for an exercise i.e. highest number of reps, amount of weight, or quickest time.
Progressive Resistance / Progressive Overload
A strength training method in which an increase in volume or intensity is applied to facilitate muscle / strength and fitness gains.
Progressive resistance at the individual exercise level is often introduced using resistance bands or chains. For example, when using resistance bands during a bench press, more resistance is applied the further the bar is pushed away from the body at the top of the lift.
Push (Exercise Classification)
A movement away from the center of the body during an exercise, when contracting a target muscle.
See other exercise classifications: Compound, Isolation, Pull
Pull (Exercise Classification)
A movement toward the centre of the body during an exercise, when contracting a target muscle.
See other exercise classifications: Compound, Isolation, Push
Pulse
The number of times the heart beats per minute.
Repetition
One complete execution of an exercise, often used in strength / weight training.
Also known as rep.
Resistance Bands
Heavy duty latex bands, usually available in varying thicknesses / widths used for fitness training and weight training.
Resistance bands offer and increasing resistance the further they are stretched and are commonly used in Olympic weight training or ballistic running drills.
See - Resistance band guide, or resistance bands in our store.
Ring Training
Training for fitness on gymnastic rings. Ring training is highly effective, hardcore, bodyweight strength training.
See - Ring Training Articles or ring exercises.
Self-myofascial release (SMR)
Myo refers to muscle, and fascia to the tissue that surrounds muscle fibers.
Self myofascial release is a relatively simple technique that is used to alleviate trigger points by putting pressure on tender areas along the muscle tissue. This helps to relax the muscle, dissapate adhesions, increase blood flow, and improve flexibility and recovery.
Sprawling
A defensive technique in combat sports used in response to takedown attempts. Sprawling is mastering the ability of staying on your feet.
Strongman
A variety of strength events such as atlas stones, farmer's walk, log clean and press.
Suspension Training
A highly effective form of functional bodyweight training using a suspension trainer. The trainer is attached to an anchor point and you use the handles or foot straps to exercise with your bodyweight.
See - Suspension Training Articles for more information.
Tabata
Do as many reps of the exercise as you can for twenty seconds, then rest 10 seconds. Repeat this seven more times for a total of 8 intervals, totalling 4 minutes of exercise. Your score is the least number of reps for any of the eight intervals.
Takedowns
A combat and martial arts term referring to the ability to off-balance an opponent and bring them to the ground, typically with the initiator landing a top. In MMA this will commonly take the form of a double or single leg takedown attempt, similar to a rugby tackle.
Wobble Board
Also known as Balance Boards, Wobble Boards are training equipment used to develop coordination, agility and balance. Participants stand on a board that is balanced on an inflatable cushion or roller of some kind and attempt to stay upright.
See - Balance boards in store.
WOD
WOD is a common acronym used to represent Workout Of The Day. Frequently used by CrossFit circles.
Disclaimer
Always consult your GP before undertaking any form of weight loss, fitness or exercise