GCSE PE Key Words

Healthy, Active Lifestyle - A lifestyle that contributes positively to physical, mental and social well being, and includes regular exercise and physical activity.

Exercise - A form of physical activity done to maintain or improve health and/or physical fitness. Exercise is not competitive sport.

Fitness - The ability to meet the demands of the environment.

Health - A state of complete mental, physical, and social well being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.

Performance - How well a task is completed.

Body Composition - The percentage of body weight that is fat, muscle and bone.

Cardiovascular Fitness - The ability to exercise the entire body for long periods of time.

Flexibility - The range of movement possible at a joint.

Muscular Endurance - The ability to use the voluntary muscles many times without getting tired.

Muscular Strength - The amount of force a muscle can exert against a resistance.

Agility - The ability to change position of the body quickly and control the movement of the whole body.

Balance - The ability to retain the body's centre of mass (gravity) above the base of support with reference to static or dynamic conditions of movement, shape and orientation.

Coordination - The ability to use two or more body parts together.

Power - The ability to undertake strength performances quickly (power = strength x speed).

Reaction Time - The time between the presentation of a stimulus and the onset of a movement.

Speed - The differential rate at which an individual is able to perform a movement or cover a distance in a period of time.

Fitness - The ability to meet the demands of the environment.

PAR-Q - Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.

PEP - Personal Exercise Programme.

SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-Bound

Aerobic - With Oxygen. If exercise is not too fast and steady, the heart can supply all the oxygen muscles need.

Anaerobic - Without Oxygen. If exercise is done in short, fast bursts, the heart cannot supply blood and oxygen to muscles as quickly as cells use them.

Balanced Diet - A diet which contains an optimal ration of nutrients.

Macro Nutrients - Carbohydrate, Protein, Fat.

Micro Nutrients - Vitamins and minerals, Water, Fibre.

Somatotype - Classification of body type.

Ectomorph - An individual with narrow shoulders and narrow hips, a somatotype characterised by thinness.

Endomorph - An individual with wide hips and narrow shoulders, a somatotype characterised by fatness.

Mesomorph - An individual with wide shoulders and narrow hips, a somatotype characterised by muscularity.

Anorexic - Pertaining to anorexia - a prolonged eating disorder due to loss of appetite.

Underweight - Weighing less than is normal, healthy or required.

Overfat - Having excess body fat.

Overweight - Weighing more than is normal, healthy or required.

Obese - A term used to describe people who are very overfat.

Anabolic Steroids - Drugs that mimic the male sex hormone testosterone and promote bone and muscle growth.

Beta Blockers - Drugs that are used to control heart rate and have a calming and relaxing effect.

Diuretics - Drugs that elevate the rate of urine excretion.

Erythropoietin (EPO) - A type of peptide hormone that increases the red blood cell count.

Narcotic Analgesics - Drugs that cause the production of other hormones.

Stimulants - Drugs that have an effect on the central nervous system, such as an increased mental and/or physical alertness.

Blood Pressure - The force exerted by the circulating blood on the walls of the blood vessels.

Cardiac Output - The amount of blood ejected from the heart in one minute.

Heart Rate - The number of times the heart beats per minute.

Stroke Volume - The volume of blood pumped out of the heart by each ventricle during one contraction.

Rest - The period of time allocated to recovery.

Oxygen Debt - The amount of oxygen consumed during recovery above that which would have ordinarily been consumed in the same time at rest.

Isometric Contraction - When the muscle contracts but stays in a fixed position.

Isotonic Contraction - Muscle contraction that results in limb movement,

Joints - A place where two or more bones meet.

Osteoporosis - A condition of the bones which can result in them breaking more easily.

Ligaments - Attach bone to bone.

Tendons - Attach muscle to bone.

RICE - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation