Factors of Unfitness (Fitless Factors)

Abstract

There is general agreement about the factors involved in determining the physical state, or fitness, of the human organism. For the sportsman competing at high level it means mobilization of all the body’s resources to achieve the extreme limit of possibilities. At the other extreme, two or three times per week of jogging provides enough fitness for the average man. It is necessary therefore to apply special consideration to different groups of professionals, eg surgeons, ballet dancers, musicians, etc. Even within each of these special groups, it is possible to distinguish different ways to achieve the desirable level of fitness. For example, track athletes must use training methods which are very different from those of the weightlifter. This is reflected in the values of V02max (Maximal Oxygen Consumption) which are 60–80 ml/min/kg for the middle distance or long distance runners and 30–50 ml/min/kg for the weightlifters. A variety of clinical conditions, such as injuries, active infection, heart attack, brain haemorrhage and so on can acutely change the possibility to demonstrate fitness but in fact the fitness level is changed only insignificantly. Many cases are known where sportsmen have demonstrated results at the highest level after a brief medical assistance (a pain killer drug etc.). Many professionals participate successfully in competition in spite of fever or other illnesses.