Exercise Physiology Concepts and Adaptations

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms, training principles, physiological adaptations, and neuromuscular mechanisms from the exercise physiology lecture notes.

Exercise Physiology

The study of how the body's systems respond and adapt to physical activity and exercise.

Acute Response

An immediate, temporary change in body function that occurs during or shortly after exercise.

Chronic Adaptations

Long-term physiological changes that occur after repeated exercise training over weeks or months.

Cardiac Output Equation

$$\text{Heart Rate} \times \text{Stroke Volume}$$

Stroke Volume

The amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle during one heartbeat.

Heart Rate

The number of times the heart beats per minute.

Frequency

How often exercise is performed.

Intensity

How hard the exercise is.

Duration

How long each exercise session lasts.

Volume

Total amount of training completed.

Overload

The body must be challenged beyond its normal level to improve.

Specificity

Adaptations are specific to the training performed.

Variability

Training should vary over time to prevent plateaus and overtraining.

Reversibility

Fitness gains are lost when training stops.

Recovery

The restoration of physiological and psychological function after exercise.

Factors Influencing Recovery

Genetics, sleep quality, nutrition, hydration, stress levels, age, training status, training intensity and volume.

Untrained Performance Gains

Experience rapid gains, larger improvements in strength and aerobic fitness.

Trained Performance Gains

Gain improvements more slowly, require more specific and advanced training.

Mechanical Tension

Force placed on muscles during resistance training.

Muscle Damage

Small disruptions to muscle fibers caused by exercise.

Metabolic Stress

Accumulation of metabolites like lactate, hydrogen ions, inorganic phosphate.

Motor Unit Recruitment

The process of activation additional motor units to produce force.

Rate Coding

Increasing the firing frequency of motor neurons.

Activation Frequency

How often motor neurons fire.

Synchronization

Motor units firing together to improve force production.

Motor Unit

One motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it controls.

Cardiovascular Adaptations

Increased stroke volume, Increased cardiac output, Lower resting heart rate, Increased blood volume, Increased capillary density, Improved oxygen delivery.

Respiratory System Adaptations

Increased respiratory muscle endurance, Improved oxygen diffusion into blood, Increased ventilatory efficiency, Reduced breathing effort at submaximal exercise.

Musculoskeletal Adaptations

Increased mitochondrial density, Increased oxidative enzymes, Increased myoglobin, Increased capillary density, Greater fatigue resistance.

Exercise Economy

Amount of oxygen or energy required to perform a given workload.

Stride Length

Distance covered with each stride.

Stride Frequency

Number of strides taken per unit of time.