Download Assignment 1 Help sheet

The Physiology of Fitness Assignment 1 Helpsheet
Step 1
You need to introduce your assignment, here I would define two key terms for the entire
of this assignment these are chronic and acute.
Example Answer
There are many changes to the body during exercise; these can be classified as acute and chronic.
Acute meaning they are short term and happen almost instantly with the onset of exercise. The
other chronic is long term and allows the body to adapt its capabilities so therefore it can meet new
demands in the future. Examples of these will be discussed in time through each one of these
bodily systems: musculoskeletal, energy, respiratory and cardiovascular system.
Step 2
At this stage of the assignment you need to look at the first body system of
musculoskeletal. Here you need to identify all of the acute changes that take place within
this system and then relate this to a sporting example. Some of the changes you need to
discuss are: Increased blood supply, increase in muscle pliability, increased range of
movement and muscle fibre micro tears.
Example Answer
Increases the range of movement – when we start to exercise the movements of our joints means
that synovial fluid starts to secrete within the joints. The fluid becomes less viscous and therefore
the range of movement within the joint increases. An example of this in sport is the need for a
warm up for a butterfly swimmer. So they can get the full range of movement at the shoulder joint
that area has to be warmed up prior to the race.
Step 3
Keeping the musculoskeletal changes in mind you now need to discuss the chronic
responses, these are: hypertrophy, increase in tendon strength, increase in myoglobin
stores, increase in muscle strength, increase in tolerance to lactic acid, increase in bone
calcium stores, increased stretch of ligaments, increased thickness of hyaline cartilage
and increased production of synovial fluid.
Example Answer
Increased production of synovial fluid – as mentioned previously the movements stimulate the
secretion of synovial fluid. With regular exercise this fluid on initial release is less viscous and the
range of movement at the joint increases as connective tissue improves its flexibility. An example
in sport is a high jumper. Over a prolonged period of training their knee joint in particular will take a
lot of strain, this repetitive strain will allow for the knee joint to increase synovial fluid production as
the jump can not e performed without the knee joint.
Step 4
You now need a new side heading of energy systems and at this stage we will talk about
the acute responses of the energy system. You need to discuss each of the three energy
systems and how they initially respond to exercise.
Example Answer
Creatine Phosphate System – When exercise intensity is high, or energy needs are immediate,
Creatine phosphate stored in the muscle is broken down to provide energy to make ATP. When
the high energy bond in Phosphocreatine is broken, the energy it releases is used to resynthesise
ATP. Explosive work can be achieved but for only short periods at maximum intensity. An
example of this would be triple jump, if the athlete needs immediate energy this system is used, as
the sport will last up to 10 seconds on completion of each jump it can not wait for energy from the
Lactic Acid system.
Step 5
In this section you need to discuss the chronic changes which apply to the energy system,
you need to discuss in particular the aerobic system but also make specific reference to an
increase in aerobic and anaerobic enzymes and increased use of fats as an energy source.
Example Answer
Increased use of fats as an energy source – Fat oxidation increases if exercise extends to long
periods, as glycogen levels deplete. This is particularly prevalent to marathon runners. These
athletes will burn of the glycogen in the carbohydrates digested and will need another source of
energy to refer to this is where fats are then used.
Step 6
Under the side heading of respiratory you need to discuss the acute changes in this
system. You will need to mention the following changes: increased breathing rate and
increased tidal volume as well as many others.
Example Answer
Increased breathing rate – due to the fact the working muscles require energy during exercise the
brain sends signals to increase the breathing rate. This increase in breathing rate allows for more
oxygen to be taken in and then delivered to the working muscles. It also allows for the waste
products to be exhaled much quicker. An example of this is a footballer will gradually increase
their breathing rate the longer the game lasts and the more that the muscles demand oxygen to
fulfil physical movements.
Step 7
You now need to discuss the chronic changes to the respiratory system again relating
them to sport to show understanding; you need to include the following: increased vital
capacity, increase in minute ventilation, increased strength of respiratory muscles and
increase in oxygen diffusion rate.
Example Answer
Increased strength of respiratory muscles – like any muscle the more that it is worked the greater
it’s strength, therefore the same can be said of the intercostals muscles of the chest cavity, due to
the increased work load in breathing they become more efficient allow for greater expansion of the
chest. An example of this would be a tour de France cyclist. Due to the intense nature of the
event there chest capacity will have to increase to meet the constant demands.
Step 8
Under the side heading of cardiovascular system you will now need to discuss the acute
changes to this system giving sporting examples. The following changes will need to be
discussed: Heart rate anticipatory response, activity response, increased blood pressure,
vasodilation and vasoconstriction.
Example Answer
Vasoconstriction – this is where the blood vessels decrease in diameter to restrict the flow of blood
to an area of the body which does not need the blood supplies as much as another area. An
example of this is a boxer, here due to the repetitive punching from the fighter the arms and upper
body needs the blood to allow for regular movement, the legs receive less. This is why when a
fighter is knocked down commentators sometimes say “his legs have gone” this is because of a
lack of oxygen as it has all gone to the upper body and brain.
Step 9
Finally you need to talk about the chronic change to the cardiovascular system. This area
is vast and needs a lot of detail. The changes you will need to discuss include: cardiac
hypertrophy, increase in stroke volume, cardiac output, resting heart rate, capillarisation,
blood volume, blood pressure, recovery time and aerobic fitness.
Example Answer
Decreased resting heart rate – this is a chronic change because the heart adapts and learns how
to cope with the demands of extreme and intense workouts the more you exercise, this therefore
means the normal everyday task do not apply as much strain to the body therefore not requiring
the heart to increase blood supply to the areas of the body that are working.