Outline

Overview

The purpose of the unit is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of skeletal muscle function and how muscle adapts to increased use, specifically how muscle responds to high-resistance training (HRT, also know as strength training) and to disuse. Students will gain an understanding of muscle force development in terms of myosin function and organization (sarcomeres, myofibrils, muscle fibers) and the neural processes involved in maximal voluntary contractions. Students will then apply this knowledge to understand how HRT works in terms of hypertrophy and neural adaptations, the process of muscle atrophy during disuse and the effects of retraining after disuse. Students will integrate this biological understanding with an evidence-base approach to HRT prescription. Students apply and integrate these approaches gain skills in the real-world prescription of HRT through participation in HRT program in practical session, and then gain skills in data analysis via interpretation of their own responses to training. Students will gain skills in the ability to critically evaluate, and communicate applications of evidence-base research in healthy and clinical populations. Finally the unit examines concepts on muscle energy balance in terms of methods and control of ATP production and use, and these concepts are used to understand the concepts of peripheral and central fatigue.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Movement Sciences
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	EXSS1036
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Tom Gwinn, tom.gwinn@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Tom Gwinn, tom.gwinn@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Ayshe Sahinovic, ayshe.sahinovic@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Philippe jacquot, philippe.jacquot@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Final exam Short answer and MCQ	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Quiz 1 Short answer and MCQ	7.5%	Week 04 Due date: 19 Aug 2024 at 23:59	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Quiz 2 Short answer and MCQ	7.5%	Week 06 Due date: 02 Sep 2024 at 23:59	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Practical report Written report	10%	Week 07 Due date: 13 Sep 2024 at 23:59	4 A4 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Quiz 3 Short answer and MCQ	5%	Week 08 Due date: 16 Sep 2024 at 23:59	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Evidence base presentation Oral presentation and report	15%	Week 10	15 minutes, 500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Quiz 4 Short answer and MCQ	5%	Week 10 Due date: 14 Oct 2024 at 23:59	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

4 x ONLINE QUIZZES (Value: two at 7.5%, two at 5%) MCQ quiz plus short answer questions reviewing the previous 2 weeks lecture content. Each quiz will take approximately 15 min to complete, but will be ‘open’ for one week.

PRACTICAL REPORT: Group assignment (Value: 10%) Students will analyse cross-sectional muscle strength data collected in Practical 1. Report will using spreadsheet functions to determine group means, maximum and minimum values, and histogram plots. Reports will include short answer questions related to the interpretation of the data.

EVIDENCE-BASE PRESENTATION: Group assignment (Value: 15%) Students acquire skills evidence-based practice by evaluating and presenting a review of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) examining a high-resistance training intervention. The study is self-selected from a master list of studies in populations including healthy older-adult, frail elderly, a range of clinical conditions (including diabetes, CHF, CAD and COPD) and healthy young adults. All students in a group are expected to contribute to the live face-to-face presentation. Attendance at the presentation session is compulsory. If students cannot attend physically, then Zoom attendance is required. Non-attendance of individual student in a group will result in that student receiving half marks for the presentation, in the absence of Special Consideration submission.

FINAL EXAM (Value 50%) The short answer style questions. Content will cover the lecture and tutorial material from week 1-12.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Note: An Absent Fail grade will result from non-attendance at the Final Exam unless special consideration is granted. Quizzes, practical report and RCT review are not compulsory assessments and non-submission will not result in an absent fail grade.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Practical report: Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date. After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction / Screening & safety for training / Evidence-base for training	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 01	Practical 1: Arm flexion 1RM & training	Practical (2 hr)
Week 02	Normal stregth / Evolutionary logic of training / Myosin structure & function	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Sarcomeres, myofibrils muscle fibers / Summation of forces and movements / Eccentric and concentric contractions	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Fibre types / Muscle activation / EC coupling	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Tutorial 1: Muscle structure and function	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Neural adaptations to resistance training / DOMS / Protein structure	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Practical 2: Use of pin load weight machines	Practical (2 hr)
Week 06	Steps in protein synthesis / Effect of resistance training on protein synthesis	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Tutorial 2: Eccentric and concentric contractions	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Cellular mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy / Detraining and dropouts	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Mechanisms of disuse muscle atrophy / Resistance training for older clients	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Tutorial 3: Activation, Adaptations to resistance training	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Evidence for resistance training in clinical conditions / Muscle atrophy in CHF and COPD	Online class (2 hr)
Week 10	Matching ATP resynthesis to use / Rates of reaction / The CK and AK reactions	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Assessment - Student Presentation: Review of resistance training RTC	Presentation (2 hr)
Week 11	Aerobic metabolism: OxPhos and Dehydrogenase reactions / Allosteric enzymes	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Lactate accumulation and central fatigue / Integrated perspective of energy metabolism	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Tutorial 4: Energy metabolism	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Review and revision	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Practical 3: Elastic training and step training	Practical (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students are encouraged to attend tutorials and practicals

The Week 10 presentations are group face-to-face presentations. All members of the group are required to participate in the presentation, i.e. each person has to participate in that presentation by speaking to some of the specific presentation slides. Non-attendance or non-participation or without Special Consideration will result in the student receiving 50% of the mark received by the other students in that presentation group.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There is no prescribed textbook for this unit. Content is referenced to primary research articles on a lecture-to-lecture basis. Some examples of core references are given below, however reading of these primary sources is not required. Links to references are available on Canvas.

Bickel CS et al. Exercise Dosing to Retain Resistance Training Adaptations in Young and Older Adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 43: 1177 1187, 2011.
Egan, B., Sharples, A.P. Molecular responses to acute exercise and their relevance for adaptations in skeletal muscle to exercise training. Physiological Reviews 103; 2057-2170, 2023
Houston ME, et al Muscle performance, morphology and metabolic capacity during strength training and detraining: a one leg model. Eur J Appl Physiol 51 25 35 1983
Hubal MJ. et al. Variability in muscle size and strength gain after unilateral resistance training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 37:964-72, 2005
Josse AR. et al Body composition and strength changes in women with milk and resistance exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 42:1122-30, 2010.
Lopez, P., Radaelli, R., Taaffe, D.R., ... Häkkinen, K., Pinto, R.S. Resistance Training Load Effects on Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength Gain: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 53; 1206–1216, 2021
Mcleod JC et al. Resistance exercise training as a primary countermeasure to age-related chronic disease. Front Physiol. 10, 1-11, 2019
Wang N. et al. Muscle fiber types of women after resistance training — Quantitative ultrastructure and enzyme activity. Pflugers Archiv. 424:494 502, 1993.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Explain the limits to voluntary muscle force production in terms of both skeletal muscle structure and neural activation
LO2. Explain the neuro-muscular adaptations to high-resistance training in health, aging and disease
LO3. Explain the neuro-muscular adaptations to muscle disuse, aging and chronic disease states effecting skeletal muscle
LO4. Acquire skills in evaluating evidence-based guidelines for prescription of high-resistance training in health and disease
LO5. Acquire skills and experience in the assessment of maximal voluntary strength and in the prescription and evaluation of a high-resistance training program
LO6. Explain muscle energy metabolism in terms of ATP demand and supply and explain causes of fatigue during muscular exercise.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Student comment from 2023: "Perhaps providing more opportunities to ask questions" Response for 2024: YOK ... Pre recorded lecture videos released in prior week (Except to Week 1). Live lecture time dedicated to answering questions and summary of main points from prior week.

Additional information

This unit of study may require you to attend a teaching activity timetabled in teaching venues installed with the University’s Clinical Recording and Observation System (CROS) in the Susan Wakil Health Building. Students should be aware of the privacy and information management implications of this system. For more information, please refer to the University’s Privacy Statement.

Student Administration Manual on the Faculty of Health Sciences

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

EXSS2030: Muscle Adaptations to Use and Disuse

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect