Endurance Sports

Rationale and Purpose of the Module: Endurance is required in a wide range of sports activities and can be expressed in various forms depending on the duration and intensity demands of the activity. A wide range of factors influence performance in endurance activities including: Physiological, nutritional, biomechanics and psychological factors. This module will provide core knowledge of endurance development and an understanding of how the physiological, nutritional, biomechanical and psychological factors influence this development. The module will be delivered using a combination of lectures, lab sessions as well as case based and problem based learning activities. The emphasis of this module will be on gaining an understanding of the methodologies to develop an endurance based athlete and applying these techniques and methodologies in a practical setting.

Syllabus: Biomechanical Aspects of Endurance Development Biomechanical responses to fatiguing exercise: Changes in movement pattern, muscle activation patterns, impact forces in response to fatigue.
Measurement of the biomechanical responses to fatigue using force platforms, EMG and Motion Analysis. Nutritional Aspects of Endurance Development principles of nutrient intake for sports performance; macro and micronutrients; body water and fluid composition; nutrient intake and body composition; nutrient interaction with exercise and competition; adaptation and recovery. Physiological Aspects of Endurance Development muscle adaptation to endurance training; cardiovascular and respiratory adaptation to endurance training; environmental effects of endurance training and competition. Central and peripheral fatigue in endurance exercise.