MODULE 1

PATH FIT 2
(Exercise-Based Fitness Activities)

Learning Outcomes
1. Define and explain key concepts in exercise physiology.
2. Develop warm-up and cooling down routines that consider the specific demands of
various exercises.
3. Apply acquired knowledge to implement well-rounded exercise programs.

Lesson:
Introduction to Exercise Physiology
1. Exercise Physiology definition
2. History of Exercise Physiology
3. Importance of warming up and cooling down

1. What is Physiology?
a branch of biology that deals with the functions and activities of life or of
living matter (such as organs, tissues, or cells) and of the physical and chemical
phenomena involved.
2. Exercise Physiology Definition
Exercise physiology is the study of the body’s responses to physical activity. These responses
include changes in metabolism and in physiology of different areas of the body like the heart,
lungs, and muscles, and structural changes in cells. The word exercise comes from the
Latin exercitus, “to drive forth,” while physiology comes from the words physis (“nature”)
and logia (“study”).

3. History of Exercise Physiology

Exercise has been regarded as important to human health for thousands of years, beginning
with ancient cultures. The Greek physician Hippocrates is one of the earliest-recorded and most
well-known proponents of exercise. He recommended moderate exercise in order to stay
healthy and even improve health. Other prominent ancient scholars throughout history
followed suit, including Plato, Aristotle, and the Roman physician Galen, who believed that
exercise improved general health, metabolism, and muscle tone, and even led to better bowel
movements. Later, the Persian physician Avicenna also wrote in support of Galen in the medical
text Canon of Medicine. Avicenna believed that exercise balanced the four body humors (an
idea that was popular at the time and had been passed down from Ancient Greece).
Importantly, he also recognized that too much exercise could have negative effects on the body.

In the 16th Century, around the start of Scientific Revolution, physicians began to write books
on exercise. One of the earliest known books on exercise was Book of Bodily Exercise, written
by the Spanish physician Cristobal Mendez. In his book, Mendez discussed benefits, types, and
values of exercise, along with common exercises and why they were important to perform. In
the 19th Century, some medical textbooks began to include chapters on exercise. The negative
effects of lack of exercise, including poor circulation, weakness, and increased likelihood of
disease, became more well-known. As the importance of physical activity became more and
more important, schools also began to offer physical education classes, which required students
to perform exercises for a set period of time each day.

The first true exercise physiology textbook, Exercise in Education and Medicine by Dr. R. Tait
McKenzie, was published in 1910. Laboratories devoted to the study of exercise physiology
were also established in the 20th Century. These included the Harvard Fatigue Laboratory,
opened in 1927, and the Physical Fitness Research Laboratory at University of Illinois, opened in
1944. These schools conducted numerous on such topics as fatigue, cardiovascular changes
during exercise, oxygen uptake by the body, and the effects of training. In 1948, the Journal of
Applied Physiology began to be published. This journal publishes peer-reviewed research in
exercise physiology and still exists today. While contributing greatly to our understanding of
exercise’s effects, exercise physiology labs also trained numerous scientists who would go on to
found their own exercise physiology laboratories in universities and medical schools all over the
world.

A variety of changes take place in the body during

exercise.
 4. Types of Exercise Physiology
The two types of exercise physiology are sport and clinical.

1. Sport exercise physiology is, as its name suggests, related to athletes. Sport physiologists
use knowledge of the body’s response to exercise in order to develop training regimens
for athletes. Such regimens include fitness conditioning, which is the process of training
to become more physically fit through periods of exercising certain muscles and resting.
2. Clinical exercise physiology is the use of physical activity for therapy, treatment, and
prevention of chronic diseases. One disease that can be aided by exercise is diabetes.
Exercise uses the body’s stored glucose, so a diabetic may use exercise to help keep their
blood sugar levels down. Another disease treated with exercise therapy is osteoporosis,
the loss of bone tissue that commonly occurs in old age. Osteoporosis may cause joint
pain and limit movement. Clinical exercise physiologists work with affected individuals to
show them how to exercise in a safe way that minimizes pain, and may recommend
activities such as swimming that are easier on the joints. Exercise is also sometimes used
as part of a treatment for anxiety and depression, either as a standalone condition or as
a result of a physical disease, because it raises serotonin levels and reduces stress.

Exercise physiology is also sometimes regarded as being either non-clinical or clinical; “non-
clinical” is very similar to sport physiology, but the scope is widened to include healthy non-
athletes who are looking to lose weight and/or gain fitness.

5. Exercise Physiology Careers

Many different careers in exercise physiology are available, and the number of jobs in the US is
expected to increase as the population ages and obesity rates continue to rise. Exercise
physiologists may work in a variety of non-clinical or clinical settings. Non-clinical settings
include fitness centers, community organizations, and corporate fitness facilities. Sports
physiologists may work in private fitness facilities or even for professional sports organizations.
Clinical physiologists may be employed by hospitals, community facilities, and nursing homes.
Many exercise physiologists enter careers in personal training, allowing them to work with
clients one-on-one for an extended period of time to help them make progress with their
exercise regimen.

With an exercise physiology degree, one may also pursue physiology research. Although a
doctorate is needed to be the head of a physiology lab, those with bachelor’s degrees can
become a research technician, and those with master’s degrees may be able to progress to
being a research assistant or lab manager. In these positions, exercise physiologists perform
research under the supervision of doctors and scientists. They may work in laboratory settings
in hospitals, medical schools, or industry.
References

 n.a. (n.d.). “What is Clinical Exercise Physiology?” WiseGEEK. Retrieved 2017-06-30 from
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-clinical-exercise-physiology.htm.

 n.a. (2016-11-21). “What can you do with an exercise physiology degree? 5 jobs to
consider.” The College of St. Scholastica. Retrieved 2017-07-01 from
https://www.css.edu/the-sentinel-blog/what-can-you-do-with-an-exercise-physiology-
degree.html.

 Davis, Paul (n.d.). “Careers in Exercise Physiology.” American Kinesiology

Association. Retrieved 2017-07-01 from http://www.americankinesiology.org/featured-
careers/featured-careers/exercise-physiology.

 Entin, Pauline (n.d.). “A Brief History of Exercise Physiology.” Northern Arizona

University. Retrieved 2017-06-30 from
http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/pe/exs336web/336historyVA1.htm.

 Ivy, John L. (2007). “Exercise Physiology: A Brief History and Recommendations

Regarding Content Requirements for the Kinesiology Major.” Quest 59: 34-41.