Physiological Adaptations to Aerobic Training

Performance: Muscular strength

No Change

Performance: Muscular endurance

Increases for low power output

Performance: Aerobic Power

Increases

Performance: Exercise economy

Increases

Performance: Maximal rate of force production

No change or decreases

Performance: Sprint Speed

No Change

Performance: Anaerobic power

No change

Cardiovascular function (Heart rate): Resting and submaximal exercise

Decreases

Cardiovascular function (Heart rate): Maximal exercise

No change or decreases

Cardiovascular function (Heart rate): Stroke volume

Increases

Cardiovascular function (Cardiac output): Resting or submaximal exercise

No change or decreases

Cardiovascular function (Cardiac output): Maximal exercise

Increases

Muscle fibers: Fiber size

No change or increases

Muscle fibers: Capillary density

Increases

Muscle fibers: Mitochondrial density

Increases

Muscle fibers: Cytoplasmic density

No change

Muscle fibers: Myosin head chain protein

No change or decreases in amount

Muscle fibers (myofibrillar): Packing density

No change

Muscle fibers (myofibrillar): Volume

No change

Enzyme activity: Creatine phosphokinase

Increases

Enzyme activity: Myokinase

Increases

Enzyme activity: Phosophofructokinase

Variable

Enzyme activity: Lactate dehydrogenase

Variable

Enzyme activity: Sodium-potassium ATPase

May sightly increase

Metabolic energy stores: Stored ATP

Increases

Metabolic energy stores: Stored creatine phosphate

Increases

Metabolic energy stores: Stored glycogen

Increases

Metabolic energy stores: Stored triglycerides

Increases

Metabolic energy stores: Fat oxidation

Increases

Connective Tissue: Ligament strength

Increases

Connective Tissue: Tendon strength

Increases

Connective Tissue: Collagen content

Variable

Connective Tissue: Bone density

No change or increasesBo

Body Composition: % body fat

Decreases

Connective Tissue: Fat-free mass

No change