Human Physiology: LSM 3212

An Introduction: The application of Human Physiology in exercise and sports performance

A/Prof Lim Chin Leong BSc, MSc, MBA, PhD Programme Director, Combat Protection and Performance DMERI@DSO limcl@dso.org.sg
Dept of Physiology, NUS NCAP SSC Singapore Institute of Clinical Sciences 1 A*STAR

Human Anatomy
The study of human structure and morphology

Human Physiology
The study of human body functions

The Organization of Human Physiology

DNA formation
Expression Regulation e.g., ACTN3

RNA formation
Expression Regulation e.g., ACTN3, IFG-1

Protein formation
Myosin Actin

Cells

Organs

Systems

Functions

Glycolysis M. type M. Fibers M. Fibrils

Muscles Nerves

Muscular Nervous Skeletal Metabolic

Strength
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Physiological Systems of the Human

Cardiovascular Cardiopulmonary Digestive

Cognition Muscularskeletal Metabolism Endocrine Immune Nerves Thermoregulation

Urinary

Physiological Systems of the Human

Cardiovascular Cardiopulmonary Digestive

Cognition MuscularSkeletal Metabolism Endocrine Immune Nerves Thermoregulation Urinary

Physiological Systems of the Human

Cardiovascular Cardiopulmonary Digestive Cognition MuscularSkeletal Metabolism Endocrine Immune Nerves Thermoregulation Urinary

Extremes of Physiological Systems in Sport

Cardiovascular Cardiopulmonary Digestive

MuscularSkeletal

Metabolism

Endocrine Immune

Nerves Thermoregulation

Urinary

Homeostasis
The body will function to preserve its physiological equilibrium in order to survive the demands of the environment. Acute adaptation
Immediate adaptation e.g., heart rate, body temperature and energy production.

Chronic adaptation
Longer term adaptation e.g., changes in fitness and performance levels and body composition.

The Dimensions of Physiological State and Homeostasis

Non-survival / Chronic injury

Healthy and at rest

Shift in baseline physiology to survive at a new state of existence. Key issues: Acute adaptation Physical exertion Chronic adaptation Variations in adaptation Limits of adaptations Challenge Mechanisms of adaptation to regulate Interpretation of physiology

Illness / Injury
Dysregulation

Over exertion
Limits of regulation

Extreme Performance

Exercise is a Form of Stress

STRESS :
Demands an adaptation from the body

Stressor: Eustress: Distress:

The source of the stress The good stress The bad stress

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THE STRESS CONTINUUM

EXERCISE
Eustress
Improved fitness Cope better with daily tasks Improved self-image & confidence Stronger immune system

Distress
Burnout Injury Substance abuse Distorted self-image e.g muscle dysmorphia, aneroxia nervosa. 11

STRESS ADAPTATION SYNDROME

PEAK

PERFORMANCE

ADAPTATION

FATIGUE

ALARM

TIME
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Physical Activity / Exercise

Purpose / Motivation Stress Commitment Resources Intensity / Pain Outcome Time span Sacrifice Health risk

Health Driven

Performance Driven

Health Benefits of Exercise

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Health Benefits of Exercise

Are fitness and health the same??

Fitness

Health

Physical Exercise

Fitness and Health Relationship

Health Benefits Individual risks

Fitness

Gill and Cooper Sports Med 2008

Health

Aerobic capacity Body composition Muscular strength Muscular endurance Muscular speed Flexibility Agility Coordination Endurance

Physical Exercise

Obesity Insulin resistance Glucose tolerance Lipid profile CV health Blood pressure Bone density Soft tissue Mental health

The Continuum of Human Performance

Neutral return

Physical Performance

Positive return

Negative return

Untrained

Optimal

Maximal

Over

Training Volume

Intense Exercise: A Double Edged Sword

Execution of Training

Desired outcome

Undesired outcome

Disastrous outcome

Stress Tolerance

-ve Adaptation +ve Adaptation Limit of Tolerance

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Training Load

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INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN RESPONSE TO TRAINING

Variations in improvement in VO2 max following 20 weeks of endurance training by family. Average was 18% but the range was 053%. The range was influenced by genetics but was influenced very little by age, sex and race.
Adapted from C. Bouchard et al., 1999, Familiar aggregation of VO2 max response to exercise training. Results from HERITAGE Family Study, Journal of Applied Physiology 87: 10031008.
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Cardiopulmonary and Vascular Systems

Heart Lungs Blood vessels
Arteries: transport oxygenated blood : transport blood from the heart to the organs/ muscles Veins: transport deoxygenated blood : transport blood from organs to the heart

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PULMONARY SYSTEM AND EXERCISE

Ventilation : Removal of air (VE) = Td X Rf. Inhalation : Moving in of air (VI) Respiration: Cellular ventilation.
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CAPACITY OF THE LUNG

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Primary Roles of the Pulmonary System during Exercise

Inhalation of oxygen. Oxygen supply
Diffusion of O2 into the pulmonary vein capillaries.

CO2 removal
Diffusion of CO2 from Pulmonary artery capillaries into the alveoli.

Exhalation of carbon dioxide Acid - Base balance.

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CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

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FUNCTIONS DURING EXERCISE

Transportation of oxygen to exercising muscles. Removal of carbon dioxide and lactate from exercising muscles. Transportation of metabolic substrate to exercising muscle. Removal of heat from exercising muscle. Transportation of heat to skin surface. Maintenance of blood flow.

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Autonomic Nervous System

Part of peripheral nervous system that coordinates the functions of major organs Activated mainly by the spinal cord, brain stem and hypothalamus Comprises of sympathetic and parasympathetic systems SNS: Fight or flight system PSNS: Promotes functions of the resting state. Major organs under the control of the ANS: Heart Bronchus Stomach Kidney Blood vessels Intestines
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Key Roles of ANS During Exercise

Heart rate Stroke volume Cardiac output VO2 Blood pressure Blood distribution Thermoregulation Sweating

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Unnatural Alteration of Physiology for Sports Performance

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History of Doping Cases in Sports

Breakdown of the ancient Olympic games some 2000 years ago was due to political interference and the use of drugs. The first reported death from doping occurred in 1886 when a cyclist, Arthur Linton, took caffeine. The first near death in the modern Olympics occurred in 1904 when Thomas Hicks, collapsed after taking a mixture of brandy and strychnine in a marathon. Danish cyclist Knut Jensen collapsed and died in the heat of the Rome Olympics in 1960 after taking ronicol tablets and amphetamines in the belief that they would increase blood flow through his muscles.

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History of Doping Cases in Sports

In 1986 European Champion shotputter Heidi Krieger was a long term user of male hormone injections under state run doping programmes in East Germany. I was no longer Heidi Krieger. I didnt know anymore who I was I wasnt able to identify with my body anymore, and that led me to undergo a sex change Today Krieger is a gruff-voiced 40year old man called Andreas.

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History of Doping Cases in Sports

Ben Johnson (Canada) tested positive for anabolic steroids at Seoul in 1988. 1984: LA Olympics, Bronze 100 m 1984: LA Olympics, Bronze, 4 X 100m 1987: World Championship, Disqualified, 100m 1988: Seoul Olympics, Disqualified, 100m

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History of Doping Cases in Sports

Floyd Landis, winner of the 2006 Tour de France winner Floyd Landis. Overcame a normally insurmountable 8 min deficit in the final days of the 3week race. Tested positive for synthetic steroids in 17 of his urine sample after his winning race. Spent about US$2 Mil in his defence. Stripped of his title in 2007
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