Level 4 SPS4064 Physiology of Exercise Assignment: Comprehensive Assessment Through MCQs and an In-Depth Marathon Running Case Study

Level 4 SPS4064 Physiology of Exercise Assignment 

Rationale

On successful completion of this module, students will have achieved the following outcomes:

1. Examine the response of physiological systems to exercise
2. Identify the control and regulation mechanisms of physiological systems
3. Interpret and collate relevant information which integrates each physiological system
4. Demonstrate competence in laboratory skills
5. Collect, analyse and interpret physiological data
6. Communicate ideas on paper in a fluent and articulate manner
7. Develop knowledge through guided self-direction

Assessment 1: Multiple Choice Questionnaires (MCQ’s)

40% Weighting (8% for each MCQ).

Deadline: You will need to ensure that you have completed your MCQ’s via canvas before the deadlines outlined below:

Quiz 1 – Ergometry, indirect calorimetry and metabolism (8%)

Quiz 2 – Cardiovascular responses to exercise (8%)

Quiz 3 – Assessment of muscular force and fatigue (8%)

Quiz 4 – Assessment of VO2max (8%)

Quiz 5 – General questions on lectures 10, 11 & 12 (8%)

All MCQ tasks are completed on Canvas, before 5pm.   

You are permitted two attempts per MCQ. Your highest score from each MCQ will be used in your final grade.

Assessment 2: Case Study (1800 words)

A case study scenario is presented in the next section. You must read through the case study and then answer the four questions. The information presented in the lectures and practical classes will help you to partially answer these questions. However, you will be able to answer more comprehensively if you reference the recommended text books and perform your own literature searches for relevant journal articles. It is therefore necessary to show evidence of your reading by referencing research in your responses and providing a reference list. Each question is worth a specific number of marks (see below), so please ensure that your responses reflect the relative weighting of the question. As this is a substantive assessment, you must achieve at least 30% (30 out of 100 marks), alongside a mark of 40% for the overall module to pass.

Submit completed work as a word document, please include each question followed by the answer (questions do not count as part of the word count).

WORD COUNT:

The assessment for this module has a total word limit of 3000. You have 80 multiple choice questions (~1200 words) and a 1800 word case study question. Smaller word counts encourage you to be selective about the information you include and to write concisely. You are expected to keep within + 10% of this word limit otherwise your mark may be penalised as shown below:

No penalty for up to 10% above word limit

Penalty of 10% of final mark if 10-25% above word limit

Fail if more than 25% above or if word count not indicated on assignment

Case study – Physiological responses in marathon running; a study in regulation, control and homeostasis during exercise. (1800 words)

Instructions

You are a junior sports physiologist, working as part of a team in a laboratory that provides sports science support to athletes. A marathon runner has come to the lab to speak to the head of sports physiology. In general, the athlete wants to know more about what happens to his body when he is competing as he struggles in the final stages of race. By understanding a little more about the physiological responses, he is hoping this will help him develop his training. The head physiologist interviews him to find out more and, afterwards, distributes questions to the rest of the team.

Specifically, the head physiologist asks you the following questions, which you need to answer as scientifically as possible. You should use references (books and journal articles) to support your answers: to help with the question a brief synopsis of event is provided.

Background:

Competitive marathon running is an endurance event that is physically demanding and requires the runner to sustain an almost constant effort throughout the duration of the event (e.g. ~2:03-2:20; elite males). The marathon requires significant contribution from the aerobic energy systems to fully realize optimal performance. Just as importantly, all physiological systems need to be controlled and regulated so that they function in a coordinated way, they will be in what might be called a ‘steady state’ condition for large periods of the race and homeostasis will be challenged as they [physiological systems] continually adapt to new physiological stresses throughout the race.

Now answer the questions on the next page:

Assessment questions:

(1800 words)

At the start

1. At the start line your heart rate, breathing frequency and ventilation have all increased, what is responsible for raising these before you start the race and describe how it is controlled? (21 + 4 marks)

One mile in

2. What changes in your muscles promote greater oxygen diffusion and therefore greater oxygen uptake? (21 + 4 marks)

Halfway mark

1. Explain the causes of cardiac drift and discus how cardiac drift may impact performance? (21 + 4 marks)

The finish

2. Discuss the likely mechanisms of fatigue that can occur during this event? (21 + 4 marks)

Assessment 2: Case Study (60%) Rubric

Answer

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