1.4.1

Short-Term Effects of Exercise

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Immediate Effects of Exercise

When a performer begins to exercise, the first thing the body will need to do is to distribute (spread) extra oxygen to the muscles that are working harder.

Heart rate

Heart rate

  • The body will increase its heart rate (HR).
  • The heart will also beat more powerfully, which increases the stroke volume (SV).
    • The increase in HR and SV will increase cardiac output (Q). This means that more oxygenated blood can be pumped around the body each minute.
Breathing rate

Breathing rate

  • The body will increase its breathing rate.
  • The depth of breathing will also increase. This increases the tidal volume of the breaths (more air taken in with every breath).
  • This means gaseous exchange can happen at a faster rate in the lungs. This lets more oxygen enter the blood and means a person breathes out more carbon dioxide.
Body temperature

Body temperature

  • The body temperature will increase because the muscles are contracting more often and creating more heat.
  • To cool down, the arteries leading to the vessels of the skin vasodilate (widen). This lets more blood flow to the surface to remove heat, which is why performers go red.
  • The body also begins to sweat. This sweat is evaporated through the heat of the skin and heat energy is removed from the body. This acts to cool the body down.

Short-Term Effects of Exercise

There are many potential short-term effects of exercise.

Fatigue

Fatigue

  • Performers may feel tired the day after heavy exercise.
  • This is because the muscles have worked extremely hard, become swollen and feel heavy.
Light-headedness

Light-headedness

  • After exercise, a performer may feel as though they are dizzy or light-headed.
  • This is because the performer’s blood pressure drops or they have lower than normal blood sugar. Sweating can cause light-headedness and using glucose during exercise can also contribute.
Nausea

Nausea

  • This is the feeling of sickness that can come on during or immediately after exercise.
  • Over-exerting or ending exercise too abruptly (quickly) can cause this.
  • A lack of water can add to these effects. So can exercising on a full stomach of food when blood is redistributed (respread) to working muscles.
Delayed onset of muscle soreness

Delayed onset of muscle soreness

  • DOMS (Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness) is the aching and stiff feeling felt 24-72 hours after exercise.
  • Micro-tears in the muscle fibres kept up during eccentric muscle contractions (lengthening of muscles) cause this.
  • The body repairs these tears and the muscle grows back stronger for future use.
Cramp

Cramp

  • Cramp is caused by an involuntary (not planned) contraction of a tired muscle.
  • Cramp often happens because a performer is dehydrated or has a lack of minerals (e.g. sodium) in their muscles.
Jump to other topics
1

Applied Anatomy & Physiology

1.1

The Musculoskeletal System

1.1.1Musculoskeletal Structure1.1.2Structure of the Skeleton1.1.3Functions of the Skeleton1.1.4Joints1.1.5Joints 21.1.6Antagonistic Muscle Movement1.1.7End of Topic Test - The Musculoskeletal System1.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Musculoskeletal System1.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Contractions
1.2

The Cardio-Respiratory System

1.2.1Pathway of Air1.2.2Blood Vessels1.2.3Blood Vessels 21.2.4Structure of the Heart1.2.5Cardiac Cycle1.2.6Measures of Heart Performance1.2.7The Mechanics of Breathing1.2.8The Mechanics of Breathing 21.2.9The Lungs1.2.10End of Topic Test - The Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.11Exam-Style Questions - Cardio-Respiratory System1.2.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Pathway of Blood1.2.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cardiac Output
1.3

Anaerobic & Aerobic Exercise

1.3.1Aerobic & Anaerobic Respiration1.3.2Recovering After Exercise1.3.3Treatments for Recovery1.3.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Aerobic vs Anaerobic
1.4

Short-Term Effects of Exercise

1.4.1Short-Term Effects of Exercise1.4.2Long-Term Effects of Exercise
2

Movement Analysis

2.1

Lever Systems

2.1.1Lever Systems2.1.2Mechanical Advantage2.1.3Basic Sporting Movements2.1.4Basic Sporting Movements 22.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Types of Lever Systems
2.2

Planes & Axes of Movement

2.2.1Planes & Axes of Movement2.2.2End of Topic Test - Movement Analysis2.2.3Exam-Style Questions - Movement2.2.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Planes vs Axes
3

Physical Training

3.1

Health & Fitness

3.1.1Health & Fitness
3.2

The Components of Fitness

3.2.1The Components of Fitness3.2.2Sports & Fitness3.2.3Fitness Testing3.2.4Measuring Agility & Balance3.2.5Measuring Cardiovascular & Coordination3.2.6Measuring Endurance & Power3.2.7Measuring Reaction Time & Strength3.2.8Measuring Strength, Speed & Flexibility3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Components of Fitness3.2.10Exam-Style Questions - Fitness Tests
4

The Principles of Training

4.1

Principles of Training

4.1.1Principles & Circuit Training4.1.2Continuous & Fartlek Training4.1.3Plyometric & Static Training4.1.4Weight & Interval Training4.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Types of Training
4.2

Optimising Training

4.2.1Optimising Training4.2.2Altitude & Seasonal Training4.2.3Warming Up4.2.4Cooling Down4.2.5End of Topic Test - Principles & Optimisation4.2.6Exam-Style Questions - Sport-Specific Fitness
5

Using Data

5.1

Types of Data

5.1.1Quantitative Data5.1.2Qualitative Data
5.2

Data Presentation & Analysis

5.2.1Data Presentation & Analysis
6

Sports Psychology

6.1

Skills

6.1.1Skills6.1.2Skills 26.1.3Goals & Targets6.1.4Skills HyperLearning
6.2

Feedback & Preparation

6.2.1Information Processing6.2.2Guidance6.2.3Guidance 26.2.4Feedback6.2.5Mental Preparation6.2.6Controlling & Optimising Arousal6.2.7Exam-Style Questions - Skills & Guidance
6.3

Personality & Behaviour

6.3.1Aggression6.3.2Motivation6.3.3Personality Types6.3.4End of Topic Test - Sports Psychology6.3.5Exam-Style Questions - Aggression & Motivation6.3.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Aggression
7

Socio-cultural Influences

7.1

Engagement Patterns of Different Social Groups

7.1.1Engagement - Gender7.1.2Engagement - Ethnicity7.1.3Engagement - Age & Family7.1.4Engagement - Disability
7.2

Commercialisation

7.2.1Media7.2.2Commercialisation7.2.3Commercialisation 27.2.4Sponsorship7.2.5Arguments for Sponsorship7.2.6Impact of Sponsorship7.2.7End of Topic Test - Engagement & Commercialisation7.2.8Exam-Style Questions - Commercialisation & Conduct
7.3

Ethical & Socio-cultural Issues

7.3.1Impact of Technology on Performers7.3.2Impact of Technology on Performers 27.3.3Impact of Technology on Sport7.3.4Impact of Technology on Sport 27.3.5Sporting Conduct & Banned Substances7.3.6Blood Doping7.3.7Drug Restrictions7.3.8Drug Restrictions 27.3.9Spectator Behaviour7.3.10End of Topic Test - Ethical Issues7.3.11Exam-Style Questions - Performance Enhancing Drugs7.3.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Conduct in Sport
8

Health & Fitness

8.1

Overview of Health

8.1.1Well-Being & Fitness8.1.2Types of Health
8.2

Sedentary Lifestyles

8.2.1Sedentary Lifestyle8.2.2Obesity & Performance8.2.3Somatotypes8.2.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Somatypes
8.3

Nutrition & Hydration

8.3.1Nutrition8.3.2Nutrition 28.3.3Hydration8.3.4End of Topic Test - Health & Fitness8.3.5Exam-Style Questions - Nutrition & Hydration

Practice questions on Short-Term Effects of Exercise

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  1. 1
    When a performer begins to exercise, they will see an increase in their...True / false
  2. 2
    What substance is spread to muscles to enable them to work harder during exercise?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What happens in the body during exercise to cool down?Fill in the list
  4. 4
    Some potential short-term effects of exercise are...True / false
  5. 5
    Nausea during or after exercise can be worsened by...True / false
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Diagnostic Misconceptions - Aerobic vs Anaerobic

Long-Term Effects of Exercise