Outline

Overview

This unit examines the muscle metabolic and cardiovascular (CV) adaptations to endurance training (also known as aerobic training) in clinical populations and in healthy adults. To understand these adaptations the fundamental cardiorespiratory responses to exercise are first examined with an emphasis on the determinants of submaximal and maximal oxygen consumption, i.e. VO2, and VO2max. This forms the basis to understand the CV adaptations to endurance training and causes of increase in VO2max in healthy females and males of different ages, and in clinical conditions. In addition the metabolic adaptations to training are examined with an emphasis on how training decreases muscle lactate concentrations during submaximal exercise, and so reduces perceived exertion during exercise, increasing exercise capacity. The unit combines this biological approach with a parallel evidence-based development of practical guidelines for endurance training prescription, and examines the outcomes of endurance training in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses of RCTs in clinical conditions. Students gain skills a range of different methods to predict VO2max in practical sessions.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	EXSS3061
Academic unit	Movement Sciences
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	EXSS1036 or EXSS2032
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	BIOS1170 or BIOS2170
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)	Suzie Mate, suzanne.mate@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	End of semester exam Written exam: Format - short answer questions	55%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Quiz 1 Online Quiz	5%	Week 03 Due date: 06 Mar 2023 at 23:59	15 min approx - Open for 7 days
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Quiz 2 Online quiz	5%	Week 05 Due date: 20 Mar 2023 at 23:59	15 min approx - Open for 7 days
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Quiz 3 Online quiz	5%	Week 08 Due date: 17 Apr 2023 at 23:59	15 min approx - Open for 7 days
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Practical report Data analysis from incremental exercise test	15%	Week 09 Due date: 24 Apr 2023 at 23:59	graphs/calculations/1000 word discussion
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Quiz 4 Online quiz	5%	Week 11 Due date: 08 May 2023 at 23:55	15 min approx - Open for 7 days
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Evidence base review Review of exercise RTC in clinical population	10%	Week 12 Due date: 15 May 2023 at 23:59	2x A4 pages including graphs and tables
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

4 x Online Quizzes. Each quiz will examine the previous two weeks lecture and tutorial content. Each quiz will take approximately 15 min or less to complete.

Practical report: This report will involve data presentation (graphs, tables) calculations and analysis of the responses to exercise from the VO2max practical in either Week 8 or 9. A detailed rubric will be available on Canvas. This is a group assignment: the groups are defined by the 4-5 students who formed a sub-group to collect data from a student performing a max test

Evidence based report: Students will review and summarise a single published controlled trial examining the effects of an exercise training program (moderate intensity continuous exercise, high intensity interval training or sprint interval training) in either a healthy, aged sample or a sample with a medical condition. Length: 2 x A4 pages. A detailed rubric will be available on Canvas. This is a group assignment: Students will work in groups of 4-5 students.

Final exam: The exam will cover all material in the unit from both lectures and tutorial classes. The exam will have a mixture of multiple choice questions and short answer questions.

Assessment criteria

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Student performance in assessment tasks demonstrates mastery of the learning outcomes at a very high standard
Distinction	75 - 84	Student performance in assessment tasks demonstrates mastery of the learning outcomes at a high standard
Credit	65 - 74	Student performance in assessment tasks demonstrates mastery of the learning outcomes at a good standard
Pass	50 - 64	Student performance in assessment tasks demonstrates mastery of the learning outcomes at an acceptable standard
Fail	0 - 49	When the student doesn’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:

Late penalties for the practical report and Evidence-based report: Assignments submitted after 11:59 pm on the due date will be penalised by 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. If the assessment is submitted more than 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	Unit overview / Submaximal VO2 / VO2max	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 01	Practical 1: Steady-state exercise: VO2 and CV responses & Tutorial 1.	Practical (2 hr)
Week 02	Muscle determinants of VO2 / Whole body CV responses to exercise I	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Practical 2 (Group A - 1/2 of students): VO2 and CV responses to submax and max exercise	Practical (2 hr)
Week 03	Screening for exercise risk / Assessment of exercise capacity I	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Practical 2 (Group B - other 1/2 of students): VO2 and CV responses to submax and max exercise	Practical (2 hr)
Week 04	Assessment of exercise capacity II / CV responses II / VO2, COmax, age & sex	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Practical 3 Prediction of VO2max from submaximal HR	Practical (2 hr)
Week 05	How training increases VO2max / Training changes CV responses to submax exercise	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Tutorial 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Ventilation during exercise I / Ventilation during exercise II	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Effect of bedrest or detraining on VO2max / Clinical evidence for exercise training	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	A: Exercise prescription I, B: Exercise prescription II	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Practical 4: Setting endurance training intensity/ Tests of exercise capacity	Practical (2 hr)
Week 09	Exercise prescription III / A: Metabolic responses to exercise I	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Tutorial 3	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Metabolic responses to exercise II & III	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Metabolic adaptations to training I &II	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Metabolic adaptations bedrest & detraining/ Integration CV and metabolic adaptainins to training	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Tutorial 4	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Review and revision	Lecture (2 hr)

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

Recommended textbook for background reading. (Not recommended for purchase): Exercise Physiology: Theory and application to Fitness and Performance. Powers, SK and Howley, ET. 8th Ed. (2012) McGraw-Hill.

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. Understand considerations for safe cardiorespiratory fitness assessment for a variety of client groups
LO2. Describe and explain the individual and integrated physiological responses of the cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic systems to acute exercise of differing intensities
LO3. Describe and explain combinations of dosage variable for effective exercise prescription to increase endurance capacity
LO4. Describe and explain the adaptations in cardiovascular and metabolic systems responsible for increased endurance capacity, and associated health benefits, following exercise training in young adult and elderly healthy individuals and in individuals with a variety of chronic medical conditions.
LO5. Describe and explain the adaptations in cardiovascular and metabolic systems responsible for decreased endurance capacity following disuse, bed rest and aging.
LO6. Perform cardiorespiratory fitness assessments and interpret the physiological responses of an individual during exercise
LO7. Evaluate the evidence-base for endurance training for clinical populations in terms of positive performance and health outcomes through review of published randomised-controlled trials and meta-analyses.

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.

In 2022 USS feedback students requested to have metabolism content from EXSS2030 made available before Week 9. This has been incorportated into the 2023 resources.

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

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

EXSS3061: Exercise Responses and Programming

Semester 1, 2023 [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

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect