PHYSIOLOGY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY KNR 164

PHYSIOLOGY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Often called:

Exercise Science or Exercise Physiology

Principles of biology and chemistry are used to understand how the body responds to PA

Key features of this subdiscipline: Understanding how the body responds to meet

immediate (acute) demands of being PA How the body adapts to repeated (chronic)

bouts of PA

GOALS OF EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY 1. to understand how to enhance PA

2. to understand how to improve physical function in particular environments

3. to understand how PA and exercise improve health and fitness

4. to understand how exercise can be used in treating and preventing disease and alleviating symptoms of disease

5. to understand adaptations in human anatomy and physiology in response to PA

WHAT CAN YOU DO AS AN EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST? Help athletes perform at peak levels

Help people understand how to safely participate in PA

Conduct research to help prevent and treat disease through PA and exercise

Help people overcome environmental factors (i.e. temperature, altitude) during PA to maximize their work capacity

AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT Fitness or wellness center Hospital Corporation Academic institution Research laboratory Exercise instructors (commercial/corporate) Personal trainers Strength and conditioning coach Clinical areas (cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation) Military National Aeronautics and Space Administration

(NASA)

CERTIFICATIONS OF INTEREST American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) National Strength and Conditioning

Association (NSCA) Aerobics and Fitness Association of America

(AFAA) American Council on Exercise (ACE)

Term Exercise Physiologist generally reserved for those with a master’s degree

**depending on area, other certification may be required**

ENHANCE SPORT PERFORMANCE& TRAINING Application of physiological techniques to

understand and improve

Sport Physiology: the concepts of exercise physiology to training the athlete and enhancing the athlete’s sport performance (Wilmore & Costill, 1994) Impact of stretching on sport performance Effects of dehydration on wrestlers Carbohydrate intake and performance in

endurance events

FITNESS Understanding determinants of physical

fitness and how programs improve fitness

Helped create recommendations on the optimal intensity, frequency, and duration of training programs

Those in fitness centers need to understand how to adapt fitness programs for safe and appropriate clients i.e. age, activity levels, fitness goals, special

conditions

HEALTH PROMOTION OF PA Foundation for understand why PA and

exercise are beneficial in reducing risk of disease

1996, US surgeon general released statement, “significant health benefits could be obtained by including a moderate amount of PA on most, if not all, days of the week” (US Department of Health and Human Services, 1996)

Study relationship between PA and disease prevention, treatment, symptom management, etc.

CLINICAL EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS Study the role the PA plays on disease

management and rehabilitation

Medical specialties of importance: Cardiology Pulmonary medicine Also must work under a clinician

Cardiac rehabilitation Must know forms of cardiovascular disease, medical

and pharmacological treatments, read an ECG Must understand how to modify mode, intensity,

duration for those who have high blood pressure or have had open heart surgery

BIOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES USED BY EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS Cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, and

endocrine system responses to different types of PA Recently, reproductive, skeletal, immune

systems as well

Examine fuel sources used by muscles during exercise Examination of glycogen muscle storage Gene regulation of protein synthesis

EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Laboratory research allows investigators to carefully control variables and use accurate equipment.

Field research allows for less control of variables and equipment, but the participant’s activities are often more natural.

CYCLE ERGOMETER Makes it easier to assess blood pressure and

collect blood because upper body is relatively immobile

Results are not greatly affected by body weight or changes in body weight

TREADMILL Results in generally higher

maximal physiological values—heart rate, ventilation, and oxygen uptake—than cycle ergometer

SWIMMING FLUME Allows swimmers to

closely simulate their natural swimming strokes while researchers collect data

ACUTE VS. CHRONIC ADAPTATIONS Acute responses to training involve how

the body responds to one bout of exercise (for example, the increase in heart rate).

Chronic physiological adaptations to training mark how the body responds over time to the stress of repeated exercise bouts (for example, the decrease in resting heart rate).

CONSIDERATIONS IN RESEARCH Control environmental factors such as

temperature, humidity, light, and noise

Account for diurnal cycles, menstrual cycles, and sleep patterns

Use ergometers to measure physical work in standardized conditions

Match the mode of testing to the type of activity the subject usually performs