Short-Term Effects of Exercise

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

Jump to other topics