Network Physiology of

Exercise: bridging the gap

N. Balagué
nataliabalague@gmail.com
Exercise Physiology
Origins and evolution of EP
Evolution of EP

Integrative Exercise Physiology

Molecular Exercise Physiology Network Physiology of Exercise

(Wackerhage, 2014; Head, 2020) Ivanov et al., 2016 ; Balagué et al., 2020)
A century of reductionist research
• Lot of information
• Partial /limited
understanding
• Contradictory results

• Which are the limits of

performance?
• What causes fatigue?
• What limits VO2 max?
 “EFFECTS OF”
22000 abstracts
Research problems

• Theoretical assumptions,
• Type of inquiry,
• Research design,
• Data analysis techniques,
• Results interpretation
 Theoretical assumptions
Feedback loops
Central controllers and programmers
Àrea càrdio-vascular-respiratori Àrea neuro-muscular
SNC Sistema nerviós
Volum Control/Activació simpàtic
plasmàt central Eix hipotàlem-
Eritròci Eferències
ic hipofisiari
ts motores
Aferènc
Volèmia ies Excitabilitat
sensoria de la
Accions
ls membrana
V Cabal musculars
SF cardí Aportaci Alliberació de
ac ó Ca++ Retorn Ca++
C (SERCA)
Recollid
Disponibilitat Hormones
a Síntesi Ponts
O2
Ventilac O2, CO2, ATP actina/miosina d’estrès
ió ...
Tensió
Densitat muscular
capil·lar Fosfàge Glicòli Oxidac
ns si ió

Productes Mobilitzaci Mitocon

metabolisme ó substrats dris
Activitat Dany
enzimàti
Lactat, H+, Pi, ADP
ca
muscular
Acceleració/desaccelerac CO2... CHO Lípids Inflamació
ió funcional... Isquèmia-
Metabolisme energètic reperfusió
Acidesa, ROS
Dany cardíac...
... Ambient pro-
Activació/inhibició
immune
Homeostasis
oxidant
 Ignored system properties of recent EP specialities

• Synergies
• Context dependency
• Dynamic processes
• Qualitative changes
• Self-Organization
• Circular causality
• Embededness
• Time scales
Integrative Exercise Physiology
Molecular Exercise Biology
Practical consequences: Exercise prescription

ACSM: www.exerciseismedicine.org WHO: https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_adults/en/

Universal receipts

Adults (18-64 y.o.)

Aerobic exercise: 150-300

min/week
(bouts ≥ 10 min)

Muscle-strength: 2 days/ week

ACSM: www.exerciseismedicine.org
Understanding of fitness
Is fitness related to “Strength and Conditioning” or to “Diversity”?

Tyrannosaurus Rex Cyanobacteria

(strong but extinct) (3.5 billion years)

,
.
Understanding of Health

Emergent state arising from nested

networks interactions.

(Sturmberg et al., 2019)

 Research variables
Disease 1 Disease 2
Health
(Sedentarism, injuries) (Fatigue)

Connectivity
Complexity
Diversity

WEAK OVEREXPRESSED
FUNCTIONAL
UNDEREXPRESSED DISBALANCED
Network Physiology of Exercise. Bridging the gap

Bottom-up statistical inferences Vertical and horitzontal network dynamics

(Balagué, Hristovski, Almarcha, García-Retortillo, Ivanov,, 2020)
 Complexsystemsinsport.com

THANK YOU!