Unit 2: The Physiology of Fitness & Long-term Effects of Exercise
Hypertrophy – Muscular System
After long-term exercise muscles increase in size.
Result of the contractile proteins within muscle cells which contract with more force.
Males have a higher potential for increasing their muscle size due to higher levels of
testosterone.
This can be achieved through weight training (using resistance machines and free
weights) and circuit training.
For example, swimmers are able to move through the water's resistance with more
speed. Footballers also benefit from this as they are able to pass and shoot the ball
much faster and further which means it is less likely to be intercepted by an opponent.
In boxing, increasing muscle strength allows the boxer to throw punches with more force
which will wear down the opponent much more and increase the chance of knocking
them out.
Increase in Tendon Strength – Muscular System
Tendons are string tissues made from collagen which connect muscle to bone.
Exercise increases the strength of tendons by contracting continuously and putting strain
on them making them more active and replacing the cells with stronger ones.
Increases in strength can be achieved by taking part in weight training and particularly
isotonic training (muscles contract to produce movement).
Injury is less likely as they can stretch further without being damaged.
Long Jumpers can extend further during a jump and increase their overall distance.
The same advantage applies to goalkeepers as they extend their arms further when
diving allowing them to save more difficult shots.
Gymnasts can also benefit from this because tendons that can stretch further allow them
to perform the moves to the full range of movement.
Increased number of mitochondria and storage of fat, glycogen and myoglobin – Muscular
System
Myoglobin is a form of haemoglobin which transports oxygen and it is found in the
muscle cells. Mitochondria are the power stations of the body's cells and they produce
energy from oxygen. Glycogen and fat are stored in muscles and are broken down into
long-term energy.
All of these increase the supply of ATP.
The way in which to increase these factors is to participate in long distance training e.g.
continuous training.
An increase in supply of ATP allows athletes like footballers and basketball players to
play for the duration of the match and keep working at a high tempo.
An increase in these factors is an advantage for marathon runners because an increase
in mitochondria improves the body's ability to produce energy so the runner will be able
to train for longer and also run harder during the event.
, Increased Muscle Strength – Muscular System
This long-term effect of exercise is related to muscle hypertrophy.
Muscle strength is the amount of force a muscle can exert against a resistance.
Increasing it can be achieved in the same way that muscle hypertrophy is achieved,
through weightlifting using resistance machines and free weights and also circuit training.
Muscles will only strengthen through the principle of progressive overload which is to
increase the intensity or duration (reps and sets) of the activity over time.
This benefits swimmers as they able to move through the water's resistance much more
rapidly as their strokes will be quicker.
Tennis players increase their muscle strength in their biceps and triceps so that they can
serve the ball much quicker, making it harder for the opponent to return it.
Bowlers in cricket will also improve muscle strength in the same area so that they can
bowl the cricket ball at a high speed making it very difficult for the batter to hit the ball.
Increased tolerance to lactic acid – Muscular System
Lactic acid is a waste product and limiting factor of exercise. Long-term exercise makes
muscles more tolerant to it and able to clear it away effectively.
The capillary network extends allowing more blood to supply the muscles with oxygen
which breaks down lactic acid.
Endurance training is the best way to increase lactic acid tolerance as working for as
long as you physically can means your muscles have to deal with it for a long period of
time and each time you do this, they will become better at clearing it away.
Track cyclists increase their resistance to lactic acid as it allows them to cycle much
faster for a longer period of time and lactic acid build up is a big part of track cycle events
due to isotonic movement.
Professional basketballers e.g. NBA players benefit from this greatly as they play many
games during a week so if they are able to deal with lactic acid better than their muscles
will not ache as much meaning, they will be able to play more games.
1500m runners also have a high tolerance as their muscles have to work for long periods
of time so they need to be able to cope with the pain it causes in order to run for the
duration of the race.
Increase in bone calcium stores – Skeletal System
Long term exercise increases our bones mineral stores and as a result our bones
become stronger. They are also strengthened as a result of the stress that exercise
places on them.
This exercise then means that more calcium and collagen is stored in them and collagen
is the main protein of connective tissue. Because of this increase there is less chance of
developing the disease Osteoporosis which is a loss of bone mass.
There is also a change in the bone structure that makes bones brittle, weak and more to
prone to fractures. The supportive connective tissue surrounding our joints is also
strengthened.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller tem2003tm. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $11.64. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.