Overview

You will learn about the acute and chronic physiological adaptations to exercise, this includes the muscular, cardio-respiratory, neural, metabolic and thermoregulatory responses to exercise. You will learn about the key factors that can limit performance and the training methods that can be used to achieve optimal performance. Laboratory sessions will provide you with an opportunity to develop your practical skills where you will learn how to perform a range of key physiological assessments which include, how to assess energy metabolism, aerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity, anaerobic power and muscular strength. You will learn how to interpret the data collected and how it can be used to inform training, improve performance and even predict performance.

Module failure that prevents you passing the year will require resit assessment and attendance at Supplementary Assessment Week (July 2023).

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -(D) Basic understanding of acute and/or chronic physiological adaptations of the body to exercise. Work of this standard is largely descriptive containing no or largely incorrect discussion of physiological mechanisms. Primary sources are scare. Important methods are described. Data is presented descriptively. This work will follow basic format and contain some poor spelling and grammar.

-good -– (B) Good knowledge and understanding of acute and/or chronic physiological adaptations of the body to exercise. Ideas/arguments are well presented but few are original. Physiological mechanisms are identified and discussed. Pertinent references are included. A good ability to reconstruct material from literature will be evident. Data is presented clearly with few interpretation errors. Formatting will be very good with few errors. This work will be written in a scientific style and will contain few typographical or grammar errors.

-excellent -(A) Deep knowledge and understanding of acute and/or chronic physiological adaptations of the body to exercise. Command of subject but with minor gaps in knowledge. Pertinent physiological mechanism (s) will be clear and supported by good use of primary references. Evidence of wide reading and a good ability to reconstruct material from literature will be evident. Where relevant important aspects of methods are considered and discussed. Formatting will be almost perfect.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of acute muscular, neural, metabolic, cardio-respiratory and thermoregulatory responses to exercise.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the physiological adaptations to endurance and strength training.

• Effectively communicate physiological changes in a written laboratory report.

• Understand how to assess strength, aerobic and anaerobic capacity with laboratory tests, and what limits exercise performance.