1. Exercise Physiology: An Overview

EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW

What is Exercise Physiology?

Exercise Physiology is the study of the effects of exercise on the body.

Specifically, Exercise Physiology is concerned with the body’s responses & adaptations to the stress of exercise, ranging from the system level (e.g., cardiovascular system) to the subcellular level (e.g., production of ATP for energy).

These modifications can be short term – that is lasting only for the duration of the activity/exercise – or long term – present as long as the activity is continued on a regular basis.

Exercise physiologists are interested in both the acute (immediate) & chronic (long-term) effects & adaptations of exercise on all aspects of body functioning.

Acute adaptations – the changes in human physiology that occur during exercise.

Chronic adaptations – the alterations in the structure & functions of the body that occur in response to the regular completion of exercise or physical activity.

Exercise training – the repeated use of exercise to improve physical fitness.

Exercise Physiology

The study of how body structure & function is altered by exposure to physical activity and exercise.

Sport Physiology

The application of the concepts of exercise physiology to training athletes & enhancing sports performance. (Sport Physiology is derived or evolved from Exercise Physiology)

The Importance of exercise physiology to the practitioner

Knowledge from exercise physiology is used to design effective fitness programs for people of all ages, to guide the development & implementations of cardiac rehabilitation programs, to plan programs to help children & youths to incorporate physical activity into their life, and to structure rehabilitation programs for injured athletes.

1