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Unit of study_
EXSS2036: The Body Clock and Athletic Performance
2025 unit information
This unit focuses on developing an understanding of how circadian rhythm impacts athletic performance. The relationship between personal best performance and circadian phenotypes is examined through the predictors of peak performance time and optimal performance. There is an emphasis on the importance of aligning the body clock with the external environment for both health and sports performance. The unit also covers concepts of sleep as a performance enhancer, temporal variation in physiological variables, over-training, muscle damage and fatigue and recovery strategies.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Medicine and Health
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Movement Sciences |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Demonstrate knowledge in the physiology of sleep and sleep as a performance enhancer
- LO2. Comprehend the entrainment concept of the body clock and the external environment cue of light-dark cycle
- LO3. Apply the knowledge of light and exercise as zeitgebers to phase-shifting and its application to circadian misalignments
- LO4. Demonstrate competency in the skills of: a) reporting (data gathering, analysis and interpretation) b) oral presentation (organisation & visualisation; communication skills)
- LO5. Recognise the impact of circadian timing on physiological, physical and cognitive performance
- LO6. Understand the underlying chronotype on optimal athletic performance
- LO7. Understand the circadian rhythms of muscle strength and fatigue and strategies for recovery
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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