Exercise physiology

Exercise physiology is the study of how the body responds and adapts to physical activity, from acute responses during a single bout of exercise to chronic adaptations following long-term training. This topic is central to AQA A-Level Physical Education, as it bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge of anatomy and practical application in sport and exercise. Understanding exercise physiology allows students to explain why athletes fatigue, how training improves performance, and what happens to the body at a cellular level when we move.

The topic covers key systems: the cardiovascular system (heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output), the respiratory system (ventilation, gas exchange), the neuromuscular system (motor units, fibre types), and energy systems (ATP-PC, glycolytic, oxidative). Students must grasp how these systems interact during exercise of varying intensities and durations, and how training principles (e.g., specificity, overload) trigger adaptations such as increased mitochondrial density, improved lactate threshold, and enhanced oxygen delivery.

Mastering exercise physiology is essential for A-Level success because it underpins many other topics, including sports psychology (e.g., arousal effects on performance) and biomechanics (e.g., efficiency of movement). It also has real-world relevance for careers in sports science, physiotherapy, and coaching. By the end of this topic, students should be able to analyse a performer's physiological responses and prescribe evidence-based training programmes.