Overview of Exercise Physiology

Sep 19, 2024

Lecture Notes: Physiology of Exercise

Introduction

  • Overview of exercise physiology
  • Encouragement to view additional videos for more depth
  • Importance of understanding body systems related to exercise

Key Topics

  1. Body Systems & Exercise

    • Exercise challenges homeostasis
    • Increases in heart rate and respiratory rate during exercise
    • Three main systems involved:
      • Skeletal and muscular systems
      • Cardiovascular system
      • Respiratory system
  2. Skeletal Muscles & Exercise

    • Movement requires increased respiration and blood supply
    • Redistribution of blood flow during exercise
    • Muscle Composition:
      • Over 600 skeletal muscles
      • Muscle fibers (basic unit) make up motor units
      • Type 1 (slow twitch) vs. Type 2 (fast twitch) fibers
        • Type 2 has subtypes: 2A, 2X, 2C
        • Different fibers used for different activities
  3. Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems

    • Work concurrently to transport energy and oxygen
    • Pulmonary ventilation: inspiration and expiration
    • Cardiac Output = Heart Rate x Stroke Volume
    • Effects of exercise on heart rate and stroke volume
  4. Energy Systems & Metabolism

    • Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is the primary energy currency
    • Macronutrients are oxidized to release ATP
    • Energy substrates: Glycogen and Fat
      • Glycogen stored in muscles, liver, plasma
      • Fat stored as triglycerides in adipose tissue
    • Three energy systems:
      • ATP-PC System (immediate energy)
      • Anaerobic Glycolysis (short-term energy)
      • Aerobic Metabolism (long-term, sustained energy)
  5. Adaptations & Training Principles

    • Exercise adaptations involve stress and response
    • Key principles:
      • Individuality
      • Specificity
      • Progressive Overload
      • Variation/Periodization
    • Adaptations in endurance vs. resistance training
      • Endurance: Increased capillarization, type 1 fibers, cardiac adaptations
      • Resistance: Neural adaptations, muscle hypertrophy
  6. Fatigue & Overtraining

    • Muscular fatigue: inability to produce force
    • Short-term vs. Long-term fatigue
    • Overreaching: temporary performance decrease
    • Importance of rest and recovery

Conclusion

  • Encouragement to explore beyond the chapter for deeper understanding
  • Reminder to complete the chapter quiz

These notes offer a comprehensive overview of the key points discussed in Professor Gunnall's lecture on exercise physiology, focusing on the physiological responses to exercise, energy systems, and training principles.