Cardiovascular • Aerobic Describe how this adaptation enhances

adaptation gains, performance

• Anaerobic
gains
• or both
Cardiac hypertrophy Anaerobic Increased left ventricle thickness increases the ability of the
(ventricular thickness) heart to pump with more force per beat
Cardiac hypertrophy Aerobic Increased left ventricle chamber size increases the ability of the
(chamber size) heart to pump a greater volume of blood per beat
Increased blood volume Aerobic athletes have Increased blood volume increases the oxygen carrying capacity
greater benefits of the blood
Increased haemoglobin Aerobic athletes have Increased haemoglobin levels increase the oxygen carrying
greater benefits capacity of the blood
Decreased blood pressure Aerobic athletes have Lower blood pressure will occur at rest and place less stress on
greater benefits the heart and blood vessels
Increased aVO2 difference Aerobic athletes have Greater extraction of oxygen from the blood increases the
greater benefits quantity available for the working muscles
Increased capillarisation Aerobic athletes have Increased capillaries improve the amount of oxygenated blood
greater benefits that can travel to the working muscles, as well as enhancing the
removal of waste products
Increased cardiac output Both as a result of improvements in stroke volume more blood is
under maximal conditions pumped out of the heart per minute, increasing the supply of
oxygen to the working muscles
Increased stroke volume Aerobic athletes have Increased stroke volume means that during rest and sub maximal
greater benefits conditions the heart rate can lower, placing less stress on the
heart
Decreased resting and sub Aerobic athletes have See above!
maximal exercise heart greater benefits
rate
Greater ability to Aerobic athletes have This improves in trained athletes- this results in blood being
redistribute blood greater benefits directed efficiently to parts of the body that require it during
physical activity