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By Chuck Corbin, professor emeritus of the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University
Recently the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) published an article describing the components of physical fitness. The goal of the article was to update the components of physical fitness for adults based on the best recent evidence. The new classification system includes the four commonly identified components of fitness as well as a new component: neuromuscular fitness (see figure).
Adapted from Reibe et al. (2026).
It is important to be aware of updates in terminology so that we, as teachers, can answer questions from students and the general public. The following are some takeaway messages.
The addition of neuromuscular fitness is primarily for adults, especially older adults. It is not considered a health-related component of youth fitness. It does point out that fitness components considered to be skill-related can become health-related with different populations. For older adults, agility and balance are important to functional capacity, and fall prevention and gait speed are associated with disease risk and psychological health.
Body composition includes both body fat and lean body tissue such as muscle and bone. Recent studies show that measures of muscular fitness are good indicators of muscle and bone mass.
Cardiorespiratory fitness is the term used for adults because it is often assessed with lab tests (i.e., tests of aerobic capacity). For young people, the National Academy of Medicine (formerly IOM, Institute of Medicine) recommends the use of the term cardiorespiratory endurance because field tests (e.g., PACER, the mile run) involve persistent performance (endurance).
The link to health markers is much stronger in adults than among youth. For adults, especially older adults, the benefits of fitness include reduced risk of falls and injuries, reduced risk of back pain, and reduced risk for cardiovascular-disease-related biomarkers.
Muscular fitness (also referred to as muscle fitness and musculoskeletal fitness) includes the long-standing components of strength and muscular endurance as well as power, which has been shown to be a good indicator of bone mass.
The ACSM panel of experts used several criteria for identifying the components of fitness (Reibe et al., 2026, p. 3). Although the criteria were developed for adults, they apply equally well to young people. Here is my take on the various criteria included.
Is the component associated with health or health-related outcomes? The risk of early death or chronic diseases is low among young people in comparison to adults. Our students often see themselves as immortal—"that won’t happen to me.” In addition to teaching about the health benefits of fitness, we can teach about how fitness can help students function better so that they can enjoy participation in fun activities and can look good and feel good now as well as later in life.
Can regular participation in physical activity (PA) or exercise alter the component? The components included were chosen because they can be altered through physical activity (including sports, dance, recreational activities) and exercise (physical activity done primarily to promote fitness).
Is the component related to the ability to perform PA or exercise? The four components of fitness for young people do contribute to the ability to perform PA and exercise. In fact, they are required for improving health but are also necessary for performance in sports and occupations requiring high-level fitness. In that regard, they are similar to components of fitness commonly considered to be skill-related.
Are there valid and reliable assessments that can be feasibly used in professional practice? Reliable field tests of health-related fitness for young people are available. Health-related fitness testing has been endorsed by many professional groups, including the ACSM, SHAPE America, National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK), American Kinesiology Association (AKA), National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE), North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine (NASPEM), and National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Awareness of the recent changes in terminology as described by the ACSM is a step in the right direction. Physical educators are urged to read the full statement (see Reibe et al., 2026).
Reference
Reibe, D., Riebe, D., Magal, M., Kaminsky, L.A., Ross, R., Phillips, S.M., Alhassan, S., Arena, R., Behm, D.G., Camhi, S.M., Church, T.S., Evans, E.M., Feito, Y., Faigenbaum, A.D., Heymsfield, S.B., Hillman, C.H., Jankowski, C.M., Konrad, A., Liguori, G., Robinson, L.E., . . . Garber, C.E. (2026). The components of physical fitness: A roundtable statement by the American College of Sports Medicine. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 58(8), 1827-1850. www.ovid.com/jnls/acsm-msse/fulltext/10.1249/mss.0000000000003997~the-components-of-physical-fitness-a-roundtable-statement-by
Content of this article was adapted from Youth Fitness in America. Copyright C.B. Corbin.
