Outline

Overview

The aim of this unit is to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental principles of exercise training adaptations. Specifically, students will be introduced to the basic principles of training including overload, reversibility and specificity as well as the concept of fatigue and training to enhance fatigue resistance. This unit will cover the different physiological systems including the cardiovascular and respiratory system, endocrine system and metabolic pathways pertaining to energy regulation and their related adaptations to training. Finally, how these adaptations may be impacted by various environmental stimuli or pharmacological treatments will be explored. During practical classes and tutorials, students will develop skills required for assessing readiness to train; implementation of training programs; and data collection for assessing success of a training program.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Movement Sciences
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	EXSS1036
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Kieron Rooney, kieron.rooney@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Maria Fiatarone Singh, maria.fiataronesingh@sydney.edu.au
	Ollie Jay, ollie.jay@sydney.edu.au
	Kate Edwards, kate.edwards@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Heidi Morahan, heidi.morahan@sydney.edu.au
	Ayshe Sahinovic, ayshe.sahinovic@sydney.edu.au
	Clorinda Hogan, clorinda.hogan@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Final Report 3 - Data and interpretation Assessment of practical class data in graphical and written formats.	20%	Formal exam period Due date: 10 Jun 2024 at 23:59	1000-1500 Words not incl. graphs / table
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Practical Class Data Upload Upload of raw data collected in week 2 practical class.	0%	Week 03 Due date: 05 Mar 2024 at 23:59	1 Excel Sheet
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Quiz 1 A mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions covering weeks 1-4.	15%	Week 04 Due date: 15 Mar 2024 at 23:59	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Practical Class data Upload Upload of raw data collected in week 4 practical class	0%	Week 05 Due date: 19 Mar 2024 at 23:59	1 Excel Sheet
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Final Report 1 - Data and Interpretation Assessment of practical class data in graphical and written formats	10%	Week 06 Due date: 25 Mar 2024 at 23:59	500-750 words not incl. graphs / tables
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Quiz 2 A mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions covering weeks 4-7.	15%	Week 07 Due date: 12 Apr 2024 at 23:59	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Final Report 2 - Data and interpretation Assessment of practical class data in graphical and written formats.	10%	Week 08 Due date: 15 Apr 2024 at 23:59	500-750 words not incl. graphs / tables
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Practical class data Upload Upload of raw data collected in week 8 practical class	0%	Week 09 Due date: 23 Apr 2024 at 23:59	1 Excel Sheet
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Quiz 3 A mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions covering weeks 7-10	15%	Week 10 Due date: 03 May 2024 at 23:59	1 Hour
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Quiz 4 A mixture of multiple choice and short answer questions covering wks 10-13.	15%	Week 13 Due date: 24 May 2024 at 23:59	1 Hour
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assessment Item: Quiz 1 (Week 4)

Task description

A series of multiple-choice questions and short answer questions that cover material delivered in lectures, tutorials and practicals across weeks 1-4.

Quizzes will be released at 00:00 on the Wednesday of the week in which they are to be completed and will remain open until 23:59 on the Friday of that same week.

Students can complete the quiz at anytime during this period. However, once students commence the test, a timer will start and the test must be completed within 60 minutes.

Assessment Item: Quiz 2 (Week 7)

Task description

A series of multiple-choice questions and short answer questions that cover material delivered in lectures, tutorials and practicals across weeks 4-7.

Quizzes will be released at 00:00 on the Wednesday of the week in which they are to be completed and will remain open until 23:59 on the Friday of that same week.

Students can complete the quiz at anytime during this period. However, once students commence the test, a timer will start and the test must be completed within 60 minutes.

Assessment Item: Quiz 3 (Week 10)

Task description

A series of multiple-choice questions and short answer questions that cover material delivered in lectures, tutorials and practicals across weeks 7-10.

Quizzes will be released at 00:00 on the Wednesday of the week in which they are to be completed and will remain open until 23:59 on the Friday of that same week.

Students can complete the quiz at anytime during this period. However, once students commence the test, a timer will start and the test must be completed within 60 minutes.

Assessment Item: Quiz 4 (Week 13)

Task description

A series of multiple-choice questions and short answer questions that cover material delivered in lectures, tutorials and practicals across weeks 10-13.

Quizzes will be released at 00:00 on the Wednesday of the week in which they are to be completed and will remain open until 23:59 on the Friday of that same week.

Students can complete the quiz at anytime during this period. However, once students commence the test, a timer will start and the test must be completed within 60 minutes.

Assessment Item: Practical Data Upload (weeks 3, 5 and 9)

Task description

The Practical reports for this unit will require students to analyse de-identified data obtained in class.

To ensure as much data as possible all groups will need to submit their data to unit coordinators who will de-identify raw data, collate all submissions, and release whole of class data for use in practical reports.

If students do not complete this task, then the completion of the report for all students will be difficult. As such these 0 weighted tasks are essential.

Workload should be minimal as all data will be collected in practical classes and submission should require very little other than a file upload to canvas.

Assessment Item: Final Report 1 – Data and Interpretation

Task description

A Written report that presents data obtained during the practical class in week 2.

Students will need to have provided a copy of their raw data collected in class in week 3.

Students will then be asked to present graphical and tabulated data based on the data they collected in their small groups.

Students will also be asked to present graphical and tabulated data of all class data obtained from all groups.

Short answer questions will also require students to provide some basic interpretation of the data that they have presented.

Assessment Item: Final Report 2 – Data and Interpretation

Task description

A Written report that presents data obtained during the practical class in week 4.

Students will need to have provided a copy of their raw data collected in class in week 5.

Students will then be asked to present graphical and tabulated data based on the data they collected in their small groups.

Students will also be asked to present graphical and tabulated data of all class data obtained from all groups.

Short answer questions will also require students to provide some basic interpretation of the data that they have presented.

Assessment Item: Final Report 3 – Data and Interpretation

Task description

A Written report that presents data obtained during the practical class in week 8.

Students will need to have provided a copy of their raw data collected in class in week 9.

Students will then be asked to present graphical and tabulated data based on the data they collected in their small groups.

Students will also be asked to present graphical and tabulated data of all class data obtained from all groups.

Short answer questions will also require students to provide some basic interpretation of the data that they have presented.

Furthermore, long answer questions will require students interpret their data with consideration to content from lectures and tutorials.

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 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:

In accordance with University of Sydney, 2011 Assessment procedures section 7A subsections 3, 4 and 5: (3) Written work submitted electronically after 11.59 pm on the due date will be considered to have been submitted late. (4) For every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work. (a) The penalty will be calculated by first marking the work, and then subtracting 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. (5) For work submitted more than ten calendar days after the due date a mark of zero will be awarded. The marker may elect to, but is not required to, provide feedback on such work.

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	Basic Principles of Training: Introduction to protein synthesis and the stimulus-response model of adaptation; Prescriptions based on dose-response literature.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 01	Practical 1: Skills Barrier Task In this class students are assessed for competency of fundamental fitness and health assessment skills obtained through EXSS1036 and EXSS1037. Students will be asked to demonstrate competence in three tasks selected from first year classes that are relevant to the practical skills required in this unit.	Practical (2 hr)
Week 02	Metabolic Responses to Training 1: Fuel utilisation pathways and the Mitochondria	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Practical 2: Predicting VO2 max from a submaximal test. Working in groups of 4-5 students will complete a YMCA test in atleast 2 group members with ventilatory gas analysis. Data collected will be used for the group report.	Practical (2 hr)
Week 03	Metabolic Responses to Training 2: Signals for Adaptation - AMPK; mTOR and specificity to activity type	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Tutorial 1: Integrating Training type and metabolic adaptations Tutorial 2: Interpreting VO2max data, oxygen kinetics and training implications of fatigue	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Endurance Training Adaptations of the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems Integration of changes in muscle structure; VO2max; stroke volume and arterio-venous oxygen difference.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Practical Class 3: Assessing Anaerobic threshold. Working in the same groups as the week 2 practical class, students will complete an anaerobic threshold test with the same participants that completed the week 2 YMCA test. Data collected will be used for the group report.	Practical (2 hr)
Week 05	Training Adaptations of the Endocrine System: Signal transduction, central command, peripheral feedback and altered catecholamine response	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Endurance Training Adaptations of the Endocrine System and Metabolic response: Signal transduction, central command, peripheral feedback and altered catecholamine response	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Tutorial 3: Cardiovascular Adaptations – Heart Rate, Stroke Volume and VO2Max and revisiting the concept of fatigue and training to enhance fatigue resistance. Interpretation of Lactate threshold curves. (week 4 practical)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Adaptations to training: Neural, skeletal muscle fibre and the genetics of the training response.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Tutorial 4: Endocrine responses to training.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Practical class 4: Assessment of FATMAX and Maximal Fat Oxidation. Working in the same groups as week 2 and week 4 students will determine the shift in fuel utilisation as intensity increases using real time ventilatory gas analysis. Only 1 test will be completed per group of 4-5 students and this must be one of the participants that completed testing in weeks 2 and 4. Data collected will be used for the practical report.	Practical (2 hr)
Week 08	Exercise and the Immune System: The innate and acquired immune response to exercise and training effects on measures of immune function	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Environment dependent interactions with endurance training – Altitude Physical laws of altitude, physiological and metabolic responses to natural and simulated altitude training (and at rest)	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Tutorial 5: High Resistance Training Hypertrophy, Strength and synthesis of myofibrils and integrating mechanical load. Interpreting indirect calorimetry data (week 8 Practical)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Environment dependent interactions with endurance Training – Hot and Cold Fundamental heat balance, autonomic responses to hot and cold, risks and consequences of hyperthermia and hypothermia	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Tutorial 6: Exercise Immunology The inflammatory response and interaction with exercise training.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Pathologies and pharmacological treatments: An introduction to exercise for special populations (Diabetes), including pathophysiological bases of disease, the impact of exercise and interaction with pharmacological treatments	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Tutorial 7: Pathologies and Pharmacological Agents – Understanding requisite precautions and safety of patients exercising with specific medications	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Pathologies and pharmacological treatments: An introduction to exercise for special populations (Hypertension, cardiovascular disease and ageing including pathophysiological bases of disease, the impact of exercise and interactions with pharmacological treatments	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Tutorial 8: Pathologies and Pharmacological Agents – Understanding requisite precautions and safety of patients exercising with specific medications.	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Pathologies and pharmacological treatments An introduction to exercise for special populations (Asthma, COPD), including pathophysiological bases of disease, the impact of exercise and interactions with pharmacological treatments	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Tutorial 9: Pharmacological Agents – Understanding requisite precautions and safety of patients exercising with specific medications.	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture content is delivered in live, contact lectures. Student feedback in this unit has highlighted the challenges of presenting this material online. Lectures will be recorded and made available on CANVAS after delivery. Students however may find attending the live original presentation an engaging and more thorough learning experience on campus.

Attendance at tutorial classes in person is not mandatory however in this unit, Tutorials will provide the most immediate opportunity to ask teaching staff questions you may have on lecture content. And as such provide the most rich environment in which to engage with staff.

Attendance at practical classes is not mandatory, however fundamental skills on client interaction, screening and data collection that will be examined in later units of study are taught and as such you may find yourself performing poorly on future competency assessments if you do not attend in this unit.

Further, all assessments pertaining to practical classes are completed in groups. If your group chooses not to include you on submissions because you have not attended classes or contributed to the assessment, they will be supported by staff to do so. Attendance at class will be recorded and at the time of submission groups will also submit a statement of contribution for each team member.

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

For generic Exercise Physiology content students may wish to purchase the following book as it contains content common across multiple units of study.

Powers, SK and Howley, ET. Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance. 10th ed New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Education LLC. 2018

However, specific modules will require more bespoke reading lists. The following of which are recommended:

Coffey VG and Hawley JA. The Molecular Bases of Training Adaptation. Sports Medicine. September 2007, Volume 37, Issue 9, pp 737–763

Hoppeler H; Baum O; Lurman G; Mueller M. Molecular mechanisms of muscle plasticity with exercise. Comprehensive Physiology. 1(3):1383-412, 2011,

Kenney WL; Wilmore JH; Costill DL. Physiology of Sport and Exercise. 6th Edition, Human Kinetics. Ed. 2018

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.

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

LO1. Be able to identify key components and role of the cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, endocrine and immune systems in the response to acute exercise and subsequent adaptations with training
LO2. Be able to describe how specific systems respond to acute changes in metabolic demand and explain fundamental mechanisms underscoring changes in fuel utilisation, macronutrient storage and mechanisms of fatigue following training
LO3. Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the interaction between physiological responses to exercise in variable environmental conditions as well as relevant examples of nutritional and technological ergogenic aids
LO4. Be able to describe the role of relevant systems underpinning common pathologies with consideration of contraindications to training as well as the interaction of pharmacological treatments in the context of training
LO5. Demonstrate competency in the measurement, analysis and interpretation of data pertaining to physiological measurements at rest, during acute exercise and following a training program.
LO6. Demonstrate a fundamental capacity to evaluate and communicate in written form the reporting of physiological assessments to either clients and/or other relevant stakeholders

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.

This unit has now run for 3 consecutive years, commencing in the COVID years when we attempted to teach practical skills in an isolated world. During this time we have received valuable feedback from students regarding assessment structure and tutorials. The overall satisfaction scores for this unit then have increased steadily 3.88/5 (2021); 4.13/5 (2022) and 4.39/5 (2023). Following student comments in 2023, we have once again refined the delivery of some of the material in what we hope is a new and exciting way for enhancing student satisfaction.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

During the practical classes, students will be required to operate exercise equipment for which there is a low level of injury risk. However, to ensure any risk is mitigated, students will be inducted and assessed on their competency to use the equipment. Teaching staff have completed an extensive risk assessment prior to semester and will have developed safe work procedures for student inductions during class.

Further, during the practical classes students will be required to show competency in the collection of finger prick blood samples as part of their learning in aid of assessing blood glucose and lactate levels.

This procedure will expose students and staff to a biological hazard. For this purpose students and staff are recommended to be vaccinated against Hepatitis B at a minimum and may also want to consider Hepatitis A. Teaching staff have completed an extensive risk assessment prior to semester and will have developed safe work procedures for student inductions during class including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment and aseptic techniques.

If any of this information causes concern for you, please contact the unit coordinator to discuss how the practical classes may be completed in the safest possible way for you without compromising your learning experience.

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

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

EXSS2032: Exercise Training Physiology and Biochemistry

Semester 1, 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

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect