Glossary

obliques—Short for external and/or internal obliques; the muscles to either side of the abdominals that rotate and flex the trunk.

one repetition maximum (l-RM)—The amount of resistance that can be moved through the range of motion one time before the muscle is temporarily fatigued and the motion cannot be performed with good form again.

onset of blood lactate (OBLA)—Point at which lactate begins to accumulate faster in the blood than it can be removed; This point is often referred to as a "lactate" or "anaerobic" threshold and is often conserved the point where the body begins to get a high percentage of its energy from sugars as opposed to fats. The point just before the OBLA is often considered a "fat utilization" zone.

opposing muscle group—See antagonist muscle.

organic—Organic defines agricultural products that are grown using cultural, biological and mechanical methods prior to the use of synthetic, non-agricultural substances to control pests, improve soil quality an/or enhance processing. The USDA is currently addressing the issue of organic products, and aims to have official rules for what may be considered organic ready for the 1999 spring planting season. Currently organic defines an agricultural process in which farmers use techniques such as crop rotation, cultivation, mulching, soil enrichment and the "encouragement" of predators and microorganisms which naturally keep pests away. The now widely accepted definition allows farmers to use natural pesticides, but nothing synthetic.

origin—Attachment of a muscle that is more superior or proximal.

orthostatic hvpotension—Drop in blood pressure associated with rising to an erect position.

orthotics—Shoe inserts; can be helpful for persons who pronate (foot rotating inward) or supinate (foot rolling out).

osteoarthritis—Degenerative joint disease occurring chiefly in older persons; characterized by degeneration of the articular cartilage, hypertrophy of the bones, and changes in the synovial membrane.

osteoporosis—Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease in which the bones lose mass and density, the pores in bones enlarge, and the bones generally become fragile. Osteoporosis is four times more common in women, whose bones are naturally thinner and less dense, than in men. Women start losing bone mass and density at an earlier age, and the process is accelerated by menopause, causing osteoporosis to manifest itself between the ages of 50 and 60. Research has shown that in addition to regular exercise, calcium intake during childhood, adolescence and early-adulthood helps build a "bone bank" of calcium stores. While bone length is established by age 20, bone strength and density continue to develop through age 30.

osteoporosis—Thinning of the bones; density diminishes as calcium absorption is reduced; Exercised bones become denser and stronger, as long as dietary calcium is adequate.

outcomes research—A type of research increasingly used by the health industry which provides information about how a specific procedure or treatment regimen results: the subject (clinical safety and efficacy), the subject's physical functioning and lifestyle, and economic considerations such as saving/prolonging life and avoiding costly complications.

overfat—Typically defined as a BMI in excess of 25.

overload principle—One of the principles of human performance that states that beneficial adaptations occur in response to demands applied to the body at levels beyond a certain threshold (overload), but within the limits of tolerance and safety.

overload—To work intensely and vigorously beyond what you are used to; resistance, intensity, duration or frequency can be increased by increments of up to 10% in a workout to achieve overload in a progressive manner (followed by 48 hours for recovery); see progressive overload.

overtraining—Excessive hard training day-after-day without proper rest to ensure recovery.

overuse injury—An injury caused by activity that places too much stress on one area of the body over an extended period.

overuse—Doing too much, too intensely, too frequently, or for too long; many injuries are caused by overuse.

overweight—More than "normal" body weight based on standard charts, after adjustment for height, body build and age; overweight is not the same as overfat.

oxidation—The process of combining with oxygen, often associated in nutrition with the breakdown of a nutritient (Ex. Fat oxidation).

oxidation—Use of oxygen to split or breakdown molecules; Example: When oxygen is available, fat can be broken down (oxidized) by the oxygen molecule.

oxygen consumption—The amount of oxygen the body can take in and utilize.

oxygen debt—The extra oxygen (above normal resting levels) needed to recover from physical activity.

oxygen deficit—A temporary shortage of oxygen due to exercise.