Recovering After Exercise

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Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption (Epoc)

In basic terms, EPOC is the increased rate of oxygen consumption after difficult and tiring anaerobic activity.

Oxygen debt

Oxygen debt is the temporary shortage of oxygen in the body because of tiring activity.
During anaerobic exercise, the body produces energy without using oxygen. This means that a waste product called lactic acid is created.

Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC)

When the anaerobic activity stops, the performer will continue to breathe heavily. This is because the body will have to take in additional oxygen to ‘repay’ the oxygen debt. This is known as EPOC.
This helps to remove the build-up of lactic acid at the working muscles. In this way, the body ‘repays’ its oxygen debt.

Potential Negative Effects of Strenuous Exercise

Strenuous exercise can have some negative effects on performers. After strenuous exercise, performers can experience:

Fatigue

Light-headedness

Delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS)

Cool Down

An athlete can do a cool down immediately after exercise. This can be made up of walking or jogging and some static stretching.

Walking or jogging

Walking or jogging should be carried out for 5-10 minutes to cool body temperature and remove waste products (lactic acid) from the muscles.

Static stretching

Static stretching should be done for 5-10 minutes to help the muscles relax post-exercise.

Effects of a cool down

Remove waste products.
Reduce the effect of DOMS.
Prevent blood pooling (lack of blood circulation) and stop light-headedness.
Slowly reduce heart rate to a resting level.

Advantages

Easy to do (not a difficult process to learn).
Can be done immediately after exercise, so it can become a routine.
Does not cost anything.

Disadvantages

Following strenuous (difficult and tiring) activity, a performer does not always feel motivated to cool down.
Can be time-consuming (up to 20 minutes).

1Applied Anatomy & Physiology

1.1The Musculoskeletal System

1.1.1Musculoskeletal Structure

1.1.2Structure of the Skeleton

1.1.3Functions of the Skeleton

1.1.4Joints

1.1.5Joints 2

1.1.6Antagonistic Muscle Movement

1.1.7End of Topic Test - The Musculoskeletal System

1.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Musculoskeletal System

1.2The Cardio-Respiratory System

1.2.1Pathway of Air

1.2.2Blood Vessels

1.2.3Blood Vessels 2

1.2.4Structure of the Heart

1.2.5Cardiac Cycle

1.2.6Measures of Heart Performance

1.2.7The Mechanics of Breathing

1.2.8The Mechanics of Breathing 2

1.2.9The Lungs

1.2.10End of Topic Test - The Cardio-Respiratory System

1.2.11Exam-Style Questions - Cardio-Respiratory System

1.3Anaerobic & Aerobic Exercise

1.3.1Aerobic & Anaerobic Respiration

1.3.2Recovering After Exercise

1.3.3Treatments for Recovery

1.4Short-Term Effects of Exercise

1.4.1Short-Term Effects of Exercise

1.4.2Long-Term Effects of Exercise

2Movement Analysis

2.1Lever Systems

2.1.1Lever Systems

2.1.2Mechanical Advantage

2.1.3Basic Sporting Movements

2.1.4Basic Sporting Movements 2

2.2Planes & Axes of Movement

2.2.1Planes & Axes of Movement

2.2.2End of Topic Test - Movement Analysis

2.2.3Exam-Style Questions - Movement

3Physical Training

3.1Health & Fitness

3.1.1Health & Fitness

3.2The Components of Fitness

3.2.1The Components of Fitness

3.2.2Sports & Fitness

3.2.3Fitness Testing

3.2.4Measuring Agility & Balance

3.2.5Measuring Cardiovascular & Coordination

3.2.6Measuring Endurance & Power

3.2.7Measuring Reaction Time & Strength

3.2.8Measuring Strength, Speed & Flexibility

3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Components of Fitness

3.2.10Exam-Style Questions - Fitness Tests

4The Principles of Training

4.1Principles of Training

4.1.1Principles & Circuit Training

4.1.2Continuous & Fartlek Training

4.1.3Plyometric & Static Training

4.1.4Weight & Interval Training

4.2Optimising Training

4.2.1Optimising Training

4.2.2Altitude & Seasonal Training

4.2.3Warming Up

4.2.4Cooling Down

4.2.5End of Topic Test - Principles & Optimisation

4.2.6Exam-Style Questions - Sport-Specific Fitness

5Using Data

5.1Types of Data

5.1.1Quantitative Data

5.1.2Qualitative Data

5.2Data Presentation & Analysis

5.2.1Data Presentation & Analysis

6Sports Psychology

6.1Skills

6.1.1Skills

6.1.2Skills 2

6.1.3Goals & Targets

6.1.4Skills HyperLearning

6.2Feedback & Preparation

6.2.1Information Processing

6.2.2Guidance

6.2.3Guidance 2

6.2.4Feedback

6.2.5Mental Preparation

6.2.6Controlling & Optimising Arousal

6.2.7Exam-Style Questions - Skills & Guidance

6.3Personality & Behaviour

6.3.1Aggression

6.3.2Motivation

6.3.3Personality Types

6.3.4End of Topic Test - Sports Psychology

6.3.5Exam-Style Questions - Aggression & Motivation

7Socio-cultural Influences

8Health & Fitness

8.1Overview of Health

8.1.1Well-Being & Fitness

8.1.2Types of Health

8.2Sedentary Lifestyles

8.2.1Sedentary Lifestyle

8.2.2Obesity & Performance

8.2.3Somatotypes

8.3Nutrition & Hydration

8.3.1Nutrition

8.3.2Nutrition 2

8.3.3Hydration

8.3.4End of Topic Test - Health & Fitness

8.3.5Exam-Style Questions - Nutrition & Hydration

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