近年, 運動不足や偏った食生活などに起因する, いわゆる生活習慣病の罹患者が増加している｡このような情勢を反映して, 体力測定は従来の運動能力の測定を主体としたものから,QOL(quality of life)の維持, 向上を主眼にしたものに変化してきている｡このような健康の維持, 増進に関連する体力は健康関連体力と呼ばれ, それは心肺持久力, 筋力・筋持久力, 柔軟性および身体組成の４つの要素から構成されている｡これらの要素の測定には, 従来は高価な機器が必要であったが, 最近では手軽な簡便法によって測定可能である｡従って現在ではこれらの簡便法を用いることによって, 健康関連体力を測定し, 各自の健康状態を把握することが可能になっている｡現状を把握することによって, 生活習慣病の予防とQOLの維持, 向上に役立てることが期待される｡
The incident of lifestyle-related disease, resulting from physical inactivity and unbalanced diet, is on the increase in industrialized countries, including Japan. In this background, physical fitness testing, which was once focused on the measurement of motor ability, is now directed at helping the subject maintain and improve their quality of life (QOL). Physieal fitness that contributes to the maintenance and improvement of health is termed as health-related fitness. Health-related fitness is assessed using four parameters, including heart endurance, muscle strength/endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Although the assessment of such parameters once required costly equipment, simple and easy measurement methods are now available. For example, heart endurance can be estimated from the heart rate measured during a bicyele ergometer exercise, instead of using the expensive expired gas analyzer,
which also requires experienced and skilled medical experts. The other three parameters can also be evaluated by simpler methods. Thus, it has now become feasible for people to seek and undergo health-related fitness testing to understand their own health status. A health-oriented way of life, armed with the knowledge of one's own health status, can be expected to be useful for the prevention of life-style-related diseases, as well as the maintenance and improvement of the QOL.