Environmental Physiology

The aims for this module are set into the context of the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and they relate to the SEEC level descriptors for level 5 study.

• To understand the health and safety issues associated with exercising in extreme environmental conditions and use appropriate risk assessment procedures to prevent injury;
• To examine how the body responds to the stresses associated with exercising in extreme environments;
• To introduce practical recommendations associated with alleviating the strain from exercising in extreme environments;
• To experience different thermally challenging environments that enable practical laboratory skills to be developed;
• To plan, conduct and disseminate the results of a group self-designed study that will examine the physiological responses to a specific environmental condition.

In relation to the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and the SEEC level descriptors for level 5 study, by the end of the module students should be able to:

1. Understand the health and safety issues associated with exercise while under climatic stress and conduct suitable risk assessments to reduce the likelihood of injury;
2. Explain how the body functions in different extreme environmental conditions;
3. Describe the aetiology of injury and illness in extreme environmental conditions;
4. Critically appraise environmental physiology interventions that can be used to alleviate the strain associated with extreme environments;
5. Design and administer safely a small investigation examining the physiological responses to a specific environmental condition.

Theory

• Risk assessment and safety in the environmental laboratory
• Temperature homeostasis during exercise and sports performance in hot and cold environments
• Heat/cold-related injuries
• Methods for alleviating thermal strain (i.e. acclimation, precooling, hydration)
• Altitude physiology, altitude sickness and acclimation to altitude
• Gas laws, physiology and physics of diving and diving injuries;
• The travelling athlete (I.e. jet lag, sleep deprivation);
• Air quality and pollution
• Microgravity environment.

Practical

• Basic environmental physiology laboratory skills conducted in groups over the allocated laboratory period
• Dive reflex laboratory practical
• Self designed experiment conducted in groups over 2 hour laboratory period and during non-contact directed study time.

Contact time:

• Lectures
• Seminars and Tutorials
• Laboratory practicals

Non-contact time:

• Directed reading
• Self design study data collection and analysis
• Preparation for exam

Books:

Armstrong, L.E. (2000). Performing in extreme environments. Champaign, IL, Human Kinetics. 

Armstrong, L.E. (2003). Exertional heat illnesses. Champaign, IL, Human Kinetics.

Astrand, P-O. and Rodahl, K., (2003). Textbook of Work Physiology: Physiological Bases Of Exercise, 4^th ed., London, McGraw-Hill Inc..

Bookspan, J. (1995). Diving physiology in plain English. Kensington, Md. Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society.

Grant, S. and Lloyd, E. (2006). Training and performance in difficult environments: a guide for competitive athletes. The Crowood Press, Wiltshire

Pandolf, K. et al. (1988). Human performance physiology and environmental medicine at terrestrial extremes. IA, Benchmark Press.

Reilly, T. and Waterhouse, J. (2005). Sport, exercise and environmental physiology. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, London.

Wilber, Randall L. (2004). Altitude training and athletic performance. Champaign, IL. : Human Kinetics

Wilmore, J.H., Costil, D.L. and Kenney, W.L. (2008) Physiology of Sport and Exercise, (4^th edition), Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL, USA.

School home:

Chelsea School of Sport