What is cardiovascular fitness?

• A. Ability to take in, transport and utilise oxygen
• B. Maximal amount of force a muscle generates
• C. Ability of muscles to contract repeatedly for extended periods of time without fatigue
• D. Range of movement around a joint

Answer: (A)

Cardiovascular fitness is about how efficiently the body uses oxygen during sustained activity. It depends on how well the heart can pump blood (cardiac output), how effectively the lungs take in oxygen, how well the blood vessels deliver that oxygen to working muscles, and how efficiently muscles use it to produce energy (aerobic metabolism). So the key idea is the ability to take in, transport and utilise oxygen to sustain activity. The other descriptions refer to different components of fitness: maximum force relates to strength, repeated muscle contractions over time without fatigue describe muscular endurance, and range of movement around a joint describes flexibility.