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Cardiorespiratory Fitness

Meaning

Cardiorespiratory fitness, often abbreviated as CRF, is a clinical measure of the body’s capacity to efficiently deliver oxygen to the working skeletal muscles and the muscles’ ability to utilize that oxygen during sustained physical activity. It serves as a robust, independent predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease risk across diverse populations. Clinically, CRF is quantified most accurately by measuring maximal oxygen uptake, or VO2max, which reflects the integrated function of the respiratory, cardiovascular, and muscular systems. Maintaining a high level of CRF is a cornerstone of preventative medicine and hormonal balance.