Introduction

Overview

The Open Textbook of Exercise Physiology contains 3 parts: an Introduction, the Fundamentals and Integrative Exercise Physiology. Exercise physiology is a broad field of study with foundations in chemistry, physics, and biology. To gain a strong understanding of this topic requires focus, patience and persistence.

Preview

Part 1 of this textbook contains only 2 chapters. The first of these is a general introduction to the book and presents a great deal of important information that provides background that will help the reader to understand exercise physiology. The second chapter presents some highlights of the history of exercise physiology in Canada. Considering the first doctoral program in Canada that provided focus on exercise physiology was initiated in 1964, exercise physiology can be considered a relatively young field of study.

Part 2 contains several chapters dealing with the fundamentals. Chapters 3 to 12 take a systems approach to exercise physiology and include the nervous system, muscle structure and contraction, energetics, the pulmonary system, the cardiovascular system, homeostasis, basic measurements in exercise physiology, a  primer on nutrition for health and physical activity and a description of body composition and how this is impacted by nutrition and physical activity. This is a presentation of the physiology and exercise physiology basics that are needed in order to understand the more complex issues.

Part 3 includes the contractile response to repetitive contraction and the immune system response to acute and chronic exercise. The physiological responses of an athlete are presented, then special populations including the child and aging. The last two chapters deal with  the health benefits of exercise and a consideration of ascending to altitude. The physiological systems that support exercise and the homeostatic processes are dealt with here.

The appendix will be developed over the next year and will include units of measure and their conversions, a description of the fictitional characters used for examples in this textbook, and a presentation of reported values for relevant measures of physiological response during exercise.

Your Own Hardcopy

Once this book is complete, a hardcopy version can be ordered. Details to follow.

Acknowledgements

My spouse, Sandra Mann has gone beyond simply tolerating my continued occupation with this project. She has made substantial contribution as well. She has served to review most chapters for clarity and consistency and has assisted immensely with formatting and linking of terms to the glossary. Sandy’s help with this book is greatly appreciated.

Several past students/trainees of my lab group have contributed in several capacities: writing and reviewing chapters, assisting with creation of the extensive glossary, creating images and helping format the chapters for importing to Pressbooks. In particular, the following former students have made substantial contributions:

Shane Esau assisted with writing chapter 16

Jared Fletcher assisted with writing chapter 1, & 16

Lisa Geck helped organize and format chapters and the glossary and reviewed several chapters

R. John Holash assisted with writing chapters 4 and 8

Jessie O’Connell helped organize and format chapters and the glossary and reviewed several chapters

Colton Quinn helped organize and format chapters and the glossary and reviewed several chapters

Victoria Nasr helped organize and format chapters and the glossary and reviewed several chapters

Jamie Weir helped organize and format chapters and the glossary and reviewed several chapters

Paulina Westergard contributed several images