How often should flexibility be trained to improve it?

Flexibility improves with stretching on at least two or three days a week. Daily stretching gives the greatest gains (American College of Sports Medicine).

Explain why too much flexibility can be a problem.

Very loose joints may be unstable and more prone to dislocation. Flexibility should be balanced with strength around the joint.

How does yoga or Pilates contribute to flexibility?

Yoga and Pilates hold and flow through positions that lengthen muscles and mobilise joints. Regular classes improve flexibility alongside core strength and balance.

CCEA A-Level Sports Science and the Active Leisure Industry 7210

Components of Fitness

Topic overview Aerobic, anaerobic and specific endurance General strength, specific strength and muscular endurance Speed, power and reaction time Flexibility and body composition Balance, agility and co-ordination

Training Methods

Topic overview Principles of training: SPORT and FITT Goal setting and SMARTER targets for training Periodisation and training cycles The ATP-PC, lactic acid and aerobic energy systems Continuous, fartlek, interval and speed training Circuit, resistance, SAQ, core stability and stretching

Fitness Testing

Topic overview Purpose, protocol, validity and reliability of tests Choosing tests: maximal, sub-maximal and technology Tests of aerobic endurance Tests of strength, muscular endurance and power Speed, agility, flexibility, balance, co-ordination and reaction tests Supervising, recording and evaluating test results

Fitness Programmes and Exercise Sessions

Topic overview Assessing a client and designing a programme Heart rate training zones and the Karvonen method Resistance loads, work to recovery ratios and the Borg scale Planning and leading circuits, exercise to music and spinning Instructing, motivating and observing participants Evaluating a session or programme

Safety and Risk Assessment in Training

Topic overview Safe practice during fitness tests and training Training equipment, clothing and risk assessment First aid, medical emergencies and concussion Common sports injuries and their treatment

The Active Leisure Industry

Topic overview Leisure, leisure time and the leisure industry The five subsectors of active leisure Public funding of active leisure Commercial funding of active leisure

Lifestyle and Health

Topic overview Health, fitness and health-related exercise Benefits of an active lifestyle Legal and illegal substances Weight, age and the effects of ageing Preventing hypokinetic disease Stress, work-life balance and life coaches Lifestyle analysis and research methods

Nutrition for Health and Exercise

Topic overview Nutrients, their sources and functions A balanced diet and hydration Energy balance, BMI and body composition Diet, health and food handling Nutrition strategies for weight change and different sports

Enhancing Fitness

Topic overview Improving aerobic and anaerobic endurance Improving muscular endurance, strength and power Improving speed, agility and reaction time Improving flexibility and body composition Improving balance, co-ordination and skill fitness

Safety in the Active Leisure Industry

Topic overview Technique, progression, rest and recovery PAR-Q, warm-up, cool-down and contraindicated exercises Equipment, lifting, clothing, footwear and facilities Rules, regulations and risk assessment in leisure settings

Barriers to Participation

Topic overview Cost, time, location, disability and ability as barriers Gender, ethnicity, age and family as barriers Stereotyping and equal opportunity Reducing barriers and widening participation

Health of the Nation

Topic overview Lifestyle factors and life expectancy The impact of lifestyle disease on society Exercise referral, 5 A Day, smoking bans and healthy schools Alcohol, weight management and current initiatives Comparing health across European countries

Components of the Leisure Industry

Topic overview Sport and recreation Entertainment, the arts and heritage Hospitality and tourism Sectors, growth and employment in the leisure industry

Planning an Active Leisure Event

Topic overview Choosing an active leisure event Event roles and responsibilities Aims, SMARTER targets and customers Marketing an event Event finance and physical resources Target setting, timescales and organisation Risk assessment and contingency planning

Teamwork and Running an Event

Topic overview Fulfilling team roles and solving problems Communication, meetings and minutes Team building and team interaction Carrying out tasks on the day of an event

Evaluating an Active Leisure Event

Topic overview Gathering feedback on an event Judging an event against its aims and targets Evaluating individual and team performance Self-evaluation and recommendations

The Respiratory System

Topic overview Structure of the airways and lungs Mechanics of inspiration and expiration Lung volumes and capacities Gaseous exchange at the alveoli and muscles Altitude training for endurance athletes

The Cardiovascular System

Topic overview Haemoglobin, myoglobin and oxygen transport Blood gases, lactic acid and pH in exercise Structure of the heart and its conduction system Blood vessels, blood pressure and vascular control Stroke volume, cardiac output and the trained heart The cardiac cycle and control of heart rate

The Skeletal System

Topic overview Structure and functions of the skeleton Synovial joint structure and types Flexion, extension, abduction and adduction Joint actions of the ankle, forearm and shoulder girdle

The Muscular System

Topic overview Muscle tissue and muscle roles Major muscles used in sporting movements Muscle fibre types and sporting activity Motor units, summation and the all-or-none law Concentric, eccentric and isometric contraction

Effects of Exercise on Body Systems

Topic overview Short-term cardiovascular responses to exercise Long-term cardiovascular adaptations to training Respiratory responses and adaptations Skeletal and muscular responses and adaptations

Ethics in Sports Performance

Topic overview Legal and illegal drugs in sport Implications of drug taking for athletes and sport Technology in sports clothing and equipment Anti-doping strategies of governing bodies

Skill Acquisition

Topic overview Skill, ability and learning Cognitive, perceptual, motor and psychomotor skills Open, closed, self-paced and externally paced skills Discrete, serial, continuous, gross and fine skills

Learning and Performance

Topic overview Fitts and Posner's stages of learning Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation Transfer of learning Command, reciprocal, discovery and problem-solving teaching styles Learning plateaus and performance curves

Enhancing Fitness

Improving flexibility and body composition

3 things to know
AS 2

Overview

How long and how often to stretch, PNF, yoga and Pilates, too much flexibility, changing body composition for boxers and rugby forwards, skinfolds and timing across the year.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

How long should a static stretch be held to improve flexibility?

Key term

Why does PNF stretching produce greater gains in range than static stretching alone?

Key term

When should static stretching for flexibility gains be done?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
How long should a static stretch be held to improve flexibility?
Model answer
A static stretch is usually held for about 10 to 30 seconds at the point of mild tension. Two to four repetitions of each stretch are commonly advised (American College of Sports Medicine).
2
Why does PNF stretching produce greater gains in range than static stretching alone?
Model answer
The isometric contraction activates the Golgi tendon organs, which make the muscle relax. The relaxed muscle can then be stretched further than before.
3
When should static stretching for flexibility gains be done?
Model answer
Static stretching for flexibility gains is best done after training or in a separate session, when the muscles are warm. Long static stretches just before explosive work can briefly reduce power.
4
How often should flexibility be trained to improve it?
Model answer
Flexibility improves with stretching on at least two or three days a week. Daily stretching gives the greatest gains (American College of Sports Medicine).
5
Explain why too much flexibility can be a problem.
Model answer
Very loose joints may be unstable and more prone to dislocation. Flexibility should be balanced with strength around the joint.
6
How does yoga or Pilates contribute to flexibility?
Model answer
Yoga and Pilates hold and flow through positions that lengthen muscles and mobilise joints. Regular classes improve flexibility alongside core strength and balance.

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Components of Fitness

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