Exercise Physiology and Wellness/Laboratory

Catalog description

This course examines in detail the effect of exercise on healthy individuals and community dwelling individuals with mild disease impairments. The material in the course will focus on determinants of cardiorespiratory fitness as it contributes to prevention of disease, enhancement of performance and how aerobic capacity influences functional ability in different populations. The student will measure and interpret physiological variables at rest and during acute exercise. Topics to be discussed will include energy metabolism relative to various modes of exercise and exercise training regimes, how to analyze the oxygen transport system, including central and peripheral components, normal and abnormal responses to acute exercise and adaptations (metabolic, cardiovascular and pulmonary) to training and deconditioning. The student will learn to measure and interpret body composition for weight management and take into account nutritional factors related to performance. In addition, this course will provide the student with an understanding of wellness and nutrition considerations as they pertain to individuals with certain chronic conditions. The student will gain a general understanding of wellness and nutrition issues as they pertain to normal physiological functioning across the lifespan. This course will prepare the student to become actively involved in the management of their own physical and mental health, and to recognize the importance of wellness in their future patients.