30835 - Exercise physiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will: - know the principles of the main integrative metabolic and energetic processes of motor activity at various intensities of exercise - knows the modifications and adaptations of muscle, cardio-circulatory and respiratory systems with exercise - is able to detect the quantitative values ​​of the main functional parameters related to energy metabolism, cardio-circulatory and respiratory systems during acute exercise at different intensities, comparing them to the normal ranges of variability in adult healthy subjects - is able to discuss the changes in the long term, caused by repeated exercises, on muscles, on metabolic functions and on cardiovascular and respiratory systems, knowing the quantitative functional changes and their variability.

Course contents

Energy metabolism and muscle work : Energy balance and calorimetry. Resting and work metabolism. Energy reserves of the body. Thermodynamics of muscle contraction. Oxidative processes. Steady state. Transient phases and oxygen deficit. Maximum oxygen uptake. Mechanism lactate. Alactacid anaerobic energy sources.

Acute cardiovascular responses during physical exercise : Changes of cardiovascular variables during exercise: heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, blood pressure, venous return in relation to different levels of exercise intensity. Cardiac output redistribution during exercise. Integrative mechanisms of cardio-circulatory responses. EEG during exercise. Pulmonary circulation during physical exercise. Thermoregulation and circulatory function during muscular work. Water balance in exercise of varying intensity.

Respiratory responses to physical exercise : Pulmonary ventilation at varying intensities of exercise. Maximal voluntary ventilation and maximal expiratory ventilation. Changes in alveolar and blood  partial pressures of respiratory gases at different levels of exercise intensity. Gas exchanges during exercise. Changes in O2 extraction. Integration of ventilatory responses. The ventilatory equivalent of O2, ventilatory breakpoint and anaerobic threshold. Acid-base balance during exercise.

Muscular and metabolic adaptations : functional changes induced by training on the muscles. Nervous and hypertrophic factors. Changes in the muscle vessels. Effects of detraining and recovery after retraining. Modification of the muscle fiber types. Changes in the lactate threshold, the respiratory quotient and the O2 uptake.

Cardio-respiratory adaptations to training : Long term changes in: heart size, stroke volume, heart rate, cardiac output, muscle blood flow, blood pressure, blood volume, and blood composition. Long-term changes in lung volumes, respiratory rate, ventilation, gas exchanges and transport. Acclimatization to heat and cold.

Controls and hormonal adaptations in physical exercise : Hormonal control of energy processes and circulation during exercise. Main hormonal response to physical exercise, their mechanisms and physiological significance.

Readings/Bibliography

-         Wilmore and Costill Fisiologia dell'esercizio fisico e dello sport Calzetti e Mariucci 2005

Teaching methods

Lectures

Practical exercises (2nd module)

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a written test made of 25 multiple response questions (to be completed in one hour). It is awarded 1 point for each correct answer, 0 points for each question not answered, -1 point for each incorrect answer. The test is passed  with a score equivalent to half the maximum achievable (50/100). The score is converted to thirtieth and contributes to the final evaluation of the integrated course of Physiology, Theory and Methodology of Training. Students who obtain a score less than 24/30 must take an oral examination during the final exam of the Integrated Course.

Teaching tools

Exercise Physiology laboratory, with many facilities for cardio-pulmonary exercise tests.

Office hours

See the website of Salvatore Squatrito

See the website of Milena Raffi