Ever wonder how physiotherapists or personal trainers know which exercises target which muscle groups? Or how much cardio to recommend to someone? That’s exercise physiology in action.
Exercise physiology is the study of how our body responds to physical exercise, whether acute or over time.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what exercise physiology encompasses, and how it differs from related disciplines such as physiotherapy or sports science.
Exercise physiology—from Greek physio (nature, physical) and logia (the study of a certain subject)—is the study of the body’s physical response to exercise.
Exercise is the most common form of physical stress that people experience. That’s why it’s important to understand how it works, not only to maximise its potential benefits but also to identify the risks.
How exercise affects one’s body is determined by a multitude of factors, such as the type of exercise, the intensity, and the person’s fitness level.
Here are some of the adaptations that exercise physiology examines:
The most visible adaptation that exercise creates in the body is musculoskeletal—in other words, its effect on your muscles. Exercise physiologists will study how different exercises, and the programming of these exercises, produce different effects.
For example, it has long been understood that resistance training is a major driver of muscle growth (hypertrophy). Exercise physiology will do the research on which exercises best stimulate which specific muscle groups, how often to train, or whether higher resistance works better than higher repetition.
As well as muscle growth, exercise physiologists also study other changes in the muscles and joints such as strength, recruitment, density, mobility, and susceptibility to injury.
Their knowledge helps them and other health professionals create safer and more efficient workout programs to achieve particular goals.
Are you doing the right exercises to target the muscle groups you want to develop? An exercise physiologist can let you know.
The heart is a muscular organ—and so it’s no wonder that it, too, is highly affected by physical activity.
Aerobic exercises such as running, swimming, or cycling strengthen the heart, enabling it to pump more blood with each heartbeat. By contrast, a heart that is unhealthy may have to pump faster to supply the body even during rest (a high heart rate).
An exercise physiologist can design aerobic programs that improve heart health safely, taking into account an individual’s current cardiovascular health.
Exercise physiologists study both high-intensity and low-intensity cardiovascular exercises and their effects on heart health.
Ever wonder why we breathe more heavily when we exercise? It’s because when we’re physically exerting, our body needs more energy—and in order to metabolise (turn fuel into energy), we need oxygen.
As the demand for oxygen increases during physical activity, the body adapts by improving the function of respiratory muscles and increasing the volume of air the lungs can hold. Over time, this leads to improved stamina and the ability to sustain longer periods of physical exertion with less fatigue.
By studying these adaptations, exercise physiologists gain more insight into how the duration, intensity, and frequency of exercise affect results.
Exercise has long been known to affect one’s metabolism.
For example, resistance training builds muscle, which in turn increases one’s basal metabolic rate (the number of calories a person burns in a day even without any activity). Regular physical activity also improves the body’s ability to use glucose, which is crucial for managing blood sugar levels and preventing conditions like type 2 diabetes.
More knowledge on exercise’s exact effects on metabolism can help health professionals create more effective solutions for managing metabolic conditions such as diabetes and obesity.
Depending on the intensity, duration, and frequency of training, exercise can affect hormone production.
Exercise physiologists can measure these effects to understand how exercise can be used to maintain hormonal balance.
The mental health benefits of exercise are well-documented, with physical activity being shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.
Exercise triggers the release of endorphins, often referred to as “feel-good” hormones, which improve mood and provide a sense of well-being.
There is plenty of overlap between exercise physiology and related fields. But here are the ways in which they are distinct from one another:
Physiotherapy is primarily concerned with musculoskeletal rehabilitation following an injury or illness.
Physiotherapists very often use exercise—and, therefore, their knowledge in exercise physiology—when treating patients. However, they also use other modalities such as manual therapy, heat and cold therapy, and electronic stimulation.
Physiotherapists will also look into how non-exercise activities and habits, such as one’s occupation and posture, might be injurious.
Similarly, exercise physiology and sports science have plenty of overlap.
However, while exercise physiology is more geared towards how the effects of exercise and how it can be used to achieve better health, sports science has a greater focus on performance.
The work of sports scientists helps athletes, coaches, and health professionals understand how to train and manage athletes to help them perform at their best.
Sports scientists will study biomechanics, or the mechanical structure, function and motion of the body. This knowledge can help determine the optimal ways to perform the different actions in sports—in other words, how to effectively lift more weight, how to kick a ball farther, or how to run faster for longer.
They will also look into other aspects that can affect an athlete’s performance, such as nutrition, training frequency and intensity, athlete behaviour, and mental conditioning.
They’ll also study sports-specific injuries, and the prevention and rehabilitation of them.
Sports science delves into biomechanics, training programming, nutrition, and various other factors that affect an athlete’s performance.
Whether you’re an athlete looking to optimise your performance, or simply an exercise beginner who wants to learn how exercise can help improve your health, our team can help.
Our team of highly qualified physiotherapists and exercise physiologists will create workout plans tailored to your goals, and train you in the proper ways to perform each exercise.
Not sure whether you need a physio or an exercise physiologist? Give us a call!