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

Unit code	EXSS2030
Academic unit	Movement Sciences
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	EXSS1029
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
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
Lecturer(s)	Yorgi Mavrou, yorgi.mavros@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Sarah Carter, sarah.carter@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Tim Davies, timothy.davies@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Open book)	Final exam Short answer and MCQ	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz 1 Short answer and MCQ	5%	Week 04	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz 2 Short answer and MCQ	5%	Week 06	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Evidence base presentation Oral presentation and report	15%	Week 07	15 minutes, 500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz 3 Short answer and MCQ	5%	Week 08	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz 4 Short answer and MCQ	5%	Week 10	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Practical report 1 Written Report	15%	Week 12	3 A4 pages
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = Type C final exam ?

Assessment summary

4 x ONLINE QUIZZES (5% each) MCQ quizzes reviewing the previous 2 weeks lecture content. Each quiz will take apporximately 15 min to complete, but will be ‘open’ for 48 hours

PRACTICAL REPORT: Group assignment. Students will analyse cross-sectional muscle strength data collected in pre-training assessment practical and longitudinal data from high-resistance training program. 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 analysis.

EVIDENCE-BASE PRESENTATION: Group assignment. Students acquire skills evidence-based practice by evaluating and presenting a review of a controlled trial or meta analysis 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 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: The exam questions will cover the lecture and tutorial material from week 1-12.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Live Zoom - A. Normal voluntary strength, B. Voluntary strength and performance	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	A. Evidenced-based resistance training prescription, B. Myosin structure and function	Online class (1 hr)
	Live Zoom - Review: A. Prescription, B. Myosin	Lecture (1 hr)
	Even # groups: Arm flexion 1RM & training	Practical (2 hr)
Week 03	A. Sarcomeres, myofibrils and muscle fibres, B. Muscle structure determines performance	Online class (1 hr)
	Live Zoom - Review: A. Sarcomeres, B. Muscle performance	Lecture (1 hr)
	Odd # groups:Arm flexion 1RM & training	Practical (2 hr)
	Even # groups: Pin load weight machines	Practical (2 hr)
Week 04	A. Eccentric and concentric contractions, B. Muscle activation by the nervous system	Online class (1 hr)
	Live Zoom - Review: A.Eccentric/concentric contractions, B. Activation	Lecture (1 hr)
	Even # groups: Muscle structure and function	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Odd # groups: Pin load weight machines	Practical (2 hr)
Week 05	A. EC coupling, B. Neural adaptations to resistance training	Online class (1 hr)
	Live Zoom - Review: A. EC coupling, B. Neural adaptations	Lecture (1 hr)
	Even # groups: Isometric assess and train	Practical (2 hr)
	Even # groups: Muscle structure and function	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	A. Effect of resistance training on protein synthesis, B. Cellular mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy	Online class (1 hr)
	A: Detraining from trained state, B: Mechanisms of disuse muscle atrophy	Online class (1 hr)
	Live Zoom - Review: A Training & protein synthesis, B. Training & hypertrophy	Lecture (1 hr)
	Even # groups: Isometric assess and train	Practical (2 hr)
Week 07	Live Zoom - Review: A. Detraining, B. Disuse atrophy	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Even # groups: Student Presentation	Presentation (2 hr)
Week 08	Screening and safety for resistance training	Online class (1 hr)
	Live Zoom - Resistance training for older clients	Lecture (1 hr)
	Muscle cachexia in disease states	Online class (1 hr)
	Even # groups: Student Presentation	Presentation (2 hr)
Week 09	Live Zoom - Malnutrition, atrophy and training	Lecture (1 hr)
	Even # groups: Elastic and step training	Practical (2 hr)
	Even # groups: Activation, Adaptations to training	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	A: Training and delayed onset muscle soreness, B: Matching ATP resynthesis to use	Online class (1 hr)
	Live Zoom - Review: A: DOMS, B. ATP resynthesis	Lecture (1 hr)
	Odd # groups: Activation, Adaptations to training	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Even # groups: Elastic and step training	Practical (2 hr)
Week 11	A: ATP production by oxidative metabolism, B: CK reaction, Pi and muscle fatigue	Online class (1 hr)
Week 11	Review: A. Oxidative metabolism, B. CK reaction, Pi and muscle fatigue	Online class (1 hr)
Week 12	Live Zoom - Review: Lactate accumulatio, B. Integrated metabolism	Lecture (1 hr)
	A: Lactate accumulation and central fatigue, B. Integrated perspective of energy metabolism	Online class (1 hr)
	All groups: Energy metabolism	Tutorial (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students are strongly encouraged to attend the face-to-face tutorials and practicals. Attendance at the week 7-8 face-to-face student presentation sessions (in Week 7 or 8 depending on group) is compulsory. If students cannot attend presentation physically, then attendance via Zoom is required. 2.5% mark deduction will be applied for non-attendance.

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.

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 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. understand and demonstrate skill in evaluating, evidence-based guidelines for prescription of high-resistance training in health and disease, and acquire practical skills in prescription of high-resistance training
LO5. explain muscle energy balance in terms of ATP demand and supply and explain 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.

Feedback from last year was that pre-recorded lecture was complex and requested that the content could be reviewed in live lectures with opportunity to consolidate and ask questions. So presentation of content changed to: Each week: i) 1 hour (approx.) pre-recorded online lecture material – available before lecture; ii) 1 hour live Zoom lecture: Format a) mini summary of online content b) Q&A session c) clinical application. Feedback was that the marking of the online quizzes was delayed. This was due to the quizzed including both MCQs and short answer questions (SAQs) The SAQs took a substantial time to mark. This year the quizzes will be MCQ only – which will result in immediate marking. Students commented: “Good to get the tutorial questions prior to our tutorial classes as we could have prepared beforehand and made the learning more valuable”. This year tutorials will be available online prior to session, with indication of some specific questions to prepared prior to tutorial.

Additional information

Student Administration Manual on the Faculty of Health Sciences

Work, health and safety

WHS inductions will be completed at beginning of first face-to-face practical class. Practicals and tutorials will conform to current Convid-19 safety precautions and recommendations.

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

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

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

EXSS2030: Muscle Adaptations to Use and Disuse

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Cumberland, 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

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

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