INTRODUCTION TO EXERCISE

PHYSIOLOGY
 EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY
• Study of effects of exercise on the body
• Body ,s responses and adaptations to exercise
 Historical Development
• Specialized area of study mid 1960 s and1970s
• Mckenzie:Investigating effects of exercise on
various systems of the body and the idea of
preventive medicine (early 1900 s)
• After WWII :increased interest in fitness as a
result of youth fitness tests and the results of
the physicals of men in the military
 Historical Development
• 1970s:American Physiological Society recognized
exercise physiology as a specialized area of
physiology
• 1974:ACSM: Guidelines for graded exercise
testing and prescription
• 1980s and 1990s:understanding of the
relationship between physical activity and health
• 2000:1 st certification exam for clinical exercise
physiologists
 Physical fitness

• Ability of the body s systems to function

efficiently and effectively
• One is physically fit if they have the ability to
carry out daily tasks with vigor and alertness
without undue fatigue,and with ample energy
to enjoy leisure –time pursuits and to meet
unforeseen emergencies
 Physical fitness

Hypo kinetic diseases

• Disease caused by insufficient physical activity
• Often in conjunction with inappropriate dietry
practices
Dose-response debate
• What kind of activity
• How much time spent in activity
• At what intensity should it be performed
• How often in order to see benefits
 Physical fitness
Health fitness
• Body composition
• Cardio-respiratory endurance
• Flexibility
• Muscular endurance
• Muscular strength
 Physical Fitness
Performance or skill-related Fitness
• Agility e.g changing directions to hit a tennis
ball
• Balance
• Coordination
• Power
• Reaction time
 Physical fitness
• Individuals who engage in moderate intensity
exercise for at least 30 mins for most or
preferably ,all days of week,can improve their
health and decrease their risk for disease
• Additional health benefits can be derived from
increasing the time and /or intensity of
physical activity
• It is never too late to be active
 Health Benefits
• Enhanced cardiovascular function
• -reduction of many cardiovascular disease risk
factors
• Increase ability to perform tasks of daily living
• Reduced risk of muscle and joint injury
• Improved work performance
 Health benefits

• Reduction of susceptibility to depression and

anxiety
• Management of stress
• Enhancement of self –concept and esteem
• Socialization through participation in physical
activities
• Improved overall general motor performance
• Energy
• Resistance to fatigue
• Decrease the debilitating effects of old age
 Energy production for physical activity

• Use of ATP as energy to perform muscular

activity
Two ways to produce ATP
Anaerobic system
Without oxygen
• High energy expenditure ,short time 6-60
seconds
Aerobic system
• With oxygen
• Lower rate of energy expenditure ,longer
period of time (more than 3 minutes)
 Principles of Fitness Training
Principle of overload
• To improve,one must perform more than one s
normal amount of exercise
Principle of specificity
• Program should be designed in relation to specific
goals in mind
Individual s initial fitness level
• Assess initial level of fitness to design realistic
program and a starting point
Progression of program
• Increase program as individual becomes
adjusted
 Priciples of fitness training

Individual differences
Individual s work,diet,life style and management of
stress should be taken into consideration
• Warm up,work out ,cool down components
Helps prevent injury and prepares body for exercise
as well as returns it to a normal state
• Safety
Information collected from medical screening,and
informing individual of environmental conditions
• Behavioral factors
Motivation of individual to adhere to fitness
program
 Planning fitness program
• Threshold of training
Minimal level of exercise needed to achieve
desired benefits
• Target zone
Defines the upper limits of training and optimal
level of exercise
• FITT formula
Frequency,intensity,time and type
• Frequency
Number of sessions each week
• Intensity
Degree of effort put forth by the individual
during exercise
• Time
Duration of activity
 Cardio respiratory Endurance
• Body s ability to deliver oxygen effectively to
the working muscles to perform physical
activity
• Prevent hypo kinetic diseases
• Require aerobic activities such as
Jogging
running
• Body composition
Percentage of body weight composed of fat as
compared with fat free or lean tissue
Determined by height and weight tables or BMI
The formula is BMI =KG/m2
A BMI of 25.0 or more is overweight,while the
healthy range is 18.5 to 24.9
Obesity is associated with numerous health
problems and earlier mortality
 Body composition

Body composition is primarily influenced by

nutrition and physical activity
Energy balance is important in achieving a
favorable body composition
• Energy expenditure through Basal
metabolism(maintenance of essential life
functions)
• Work (including exercise )
• Excretion of body wastes
 Muscular strength and endurance
• The ability of a muscle or a muscle group to
exert a single force against a resistance

• The ability of a muscle or muscle group to

exert force repeatedly or over a period of time
 EXERCISES
• ISOMETRIC EXERCISES
Muscle exerts force against an immovable object
Static contraction
• Isotonic Exercises
Force is generated while the muscle is changing
in length
Concentric and eccentric contractions
 Flexibility

• Maximal range of motion possible at a joint

Can prevent muscle injuries ,improve low-back
pain
• Decreased flexibility Can be caused by
Sedentry lifestyle (lack of use of muscles)
Age
High amounts of body fat
stress
 Environmental considerations
Hot and Humid weather
• Use exreme caution
• Heat cramps,heat exhaustion,heat stroke
• Fluid replacement
• adaptation
 Extereme cold weather
• Heat conservation
• Hypothermia
• Frostbite
 Nutrition and fitness
• Nutrients
• Carbohydrates
• Fats
• Proteins
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Water
• Maintaing water balance is important
• A well-balanced diet is necessary to obtain all
the nutrients required by the body
 Deterrents to fitness
• Dietry practices
• Tobacco
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Use of drugs
• Inappropriate stress management approaches