Independent Study in Physiology of Exercise and Laboratory Practice

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Lectures and supervised laboratorial practice.

Learning Outcomes

It is intended that students acquire knowledge of exercise physiology and deepen any such knowledge they may already have. This curricular unit also aims at familiarizing students with different methodologies used in sport sciences for assessing physical condition, body composition and the effects of exercise according to many biochemical, hormonal, immunological and physiological parameters. It is also intended that students learn how to use the equipment available at the Biokinetics Laboratory autonomously, using the ongoing activities of the lab as a learning tool.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Supervised practice of laboratorial techniques in biochemistry (determination of biochemical, hormonal, hematological and immunological parameters values), anthropometry (stature, siting stature, skin folds, air displacement plethysmography, bioimpedance) and biomechanics (determination of isokinetic strength indexes for the main muscles and agonists/antagonists ratio; electromyography; ErgoJump).

Exercise Physiology: Bioenergetics: aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. Response to exercise and recovery. Training influence. Neuroendocrine metabolism regulation. Neuronal plasticity. Recovering after ischemia and other neurological lesions. Cardiovascular and respiratory functions in exercise. Adaptation to training. Environmental influences in physical performance. Exercise physiology in children and adolescents. Exercise physiology, disease and incapacity. Tests for assessing exercise and their interpretation. Optimization of exercise.

Head Lecturer(s)

Carlos Alberto Fontes Ribeiro

Assessment Methods

Continuous
Written test + execution and interpretation of field or laboratory tests results will be accessed: 100.0%

Bibliography

• Physiological Assessment of Human Fitness, Peter J. Maud, Carl Foster, 2nd Ed, Human Kinetics, 2006
• Biochemical monitoring of sport training. Atko Viru and Mehis Viru, Ed. Human Kinetics, 2001
• Methods of assessing immune function, Graeme I Lancaster in Immune Function in Sport and Exercise, Ed. Michael Gleeson, Churchill Livingsttone, 2006
• Human Body composition. Steven B. Heymsfield Ed. Human Kinetics, 2005
• Applied body composition assessment. Vivian H. Heyward and Dale R. Wagner. 2^nd Ed. Human Kinetic, 2004
• Exercise Physiology – Human Bioenergetics and Its applications, 4th ed., Brooks, Fahey & Baldwin eds, McGraw-Hill, 2005
• Physiology of Sport and Exercise, 3^rd ed., Wilmore & Costill eds, Human Kinetics, 2004
• Principles of Exercise Testing and Interpretation, 3^rd ed., Kwasserman et al. eds, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 1999
• Young People & Physical Activity, Armstrong & Welsman eds, Oxford University Press, 1997