Functional Physiology of Sport and Exercise

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 2 study.

The aims of this module are: 

1. To understand how physiological systems are regulated as they adjust to sport and exercise.
2. To examine physiological data that is reported from sport and exercise situations.
3. To transfer the knowledge gained of the physiological responses to sport and exercise into recommendations for the practitioner.
4. To show competence in a series of defined laboratory techniques.

In relation to the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications and the SEEC level descriptors for level 2 study, by the end of the module students should be able to:

1. Explain the regulation and adjustment of specific physiological systems during exercise;
2. Describe the integration of physiological responses to sport and exercise situations;
3. Analyse sport and exercise situations for their physiological demands;
4. Interpret data from a range of laboratory practical skills and a defined set of experimental techniques

The content of this module will be divided into the following eight sections: 

1. Energy expenditure and its measurement: Evolution of exercise physiology, energy transfer and expenditure, measurement and estimation of energy expenditure for physical activity and sport, direct and indirect calorimetry, units of measure.
2. Aerobic metabolism: Integrated responses of energy supply, endurance performance, anaerobic threshold, lactate threshold, ventilatory threshold, assessment and estimation of maximal oxygen uptake, practical use of indirect calorimetry, hormonal function.
3. Muscle function: Muscle morphology, excitation-contraction coupling, force-length/velocity relationships, development of strength & strength endurance.
4. The lungs and respiration: Gas laws (Boyle, Charles, Fick, Dalton), the control of ventilation and the range of inputs to the respiratory centre, pulmonary function testing (static and dynamic), alveolar-blood-tissue gas exchange, carriage of gases, hypoxia and hyperoxia.

Contact time:

• Lead lectures.
• Laboratory practicals
• Seminars

Non-contact time:

• Directed study
• Tutorials with staff
• Preparation for written exam 

Books:

Astrand, P-O., Rodahl, K., Dahl, H.A. and Strømme, S.B. (2003). Textbook of work physiology. 4^th ed. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL.

British Association of Sort and Exercise Science (2007). Sport and exercise physiology testing guidelines: Volume 1 (Sport Testing). Routledge, London.

British Association of Sort and Exercise Science (2007). Sport and exercise physiology testing guidelines: Volume 2 (Exercise and Clinical Testing). Routledge, London.

Ehrman, J.K., Gordon, P.M., Visich, P.S. and Keteyian, S.J. (2003). Clinical Exercise Physiology. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL, USA.

Eston R. & Reilly T. (2001). Kinanthropometry and exercise physiology laboratory manual. (2^nd ed.) E & FN Spon, London.

Hale, T. (2003). Exercise Physiology - A Thematic approach. Wiley and Sons, Chichester.

McArdle, WD, Katch, FI and Katch, VL (2007). Exercise physiology: Energy, nutrition and human performance, 6^th edition. Wlliams & Wilkins, Baltimore, USA.

Power, S.K. & Howley, E (2007). Exercise physiology: theory and application to fitness and performance, 6th edition. McGraw-Hill, New York.

Tortora, GL. and Grabowski, SR. (2004). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, 6^th edition, Wiley, UK.

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

Electronic sources:

www.sportsci.org/

A general sport science site with lots of topical information and some physiology.

www.sirc.ca/

A site with hundreds of sports science and physiology links.