Chapter 5: Exercise Physiology

 Exercise physiology: the study of how the body, from a functional

standpoint, responds, adjusts, and adapts to exercise
 Exercise physiologist: someone who studies the muscular activity and
functional responses and adaptations during exercise
 Response to exercise: an acute or short-term change in the body associated
with exercise
 Adaptation to exercise: long term change in the body due to exercise
 Physiology: study of the body’s function, anatomy, biochemistry, cellular
biology, and How organ systems respond and adapt to exercise
 Physical education: study of physiology can help improve health and sport
performance
 Areas of basic study: cardiovascular system, pulmonary system, nervous
system, muscular system, bioenergetics and metabolism, endocrine system,
immune system, skeletal system
 Areas of applied study: microgravity and spaceflight (1 wk compared to 1 yr),
gerontology (aging process, loss of muscle mass, reduced metabolic rate,
increase in body fat), spinal cord injury, stroke, cardiac and pulmonary
rehab, body composition and weight control, exercise and diabetes, exercise
and pregnancy, muscle soreness and damage, environmental exercise
physiology, ergogenic and ergolytic aids, pediatric exercise physiology,
exercise and HIV
 Technology and research tools: treadmills, ergometers, metabolic
measurements, body composition assessment, muscle biopsy,
electromyography, MRI
 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Physiological
Society (APS)
 Employment Opportunities: Clinics (cardiac and pulmonary rehab), Health and
fitness venues (personal trainer, YMCA), Sports conditioning venues (sports
physiology and strength/conditioning coach for athletes, sports teams and
athletic programs)