In humans, exercise tolerance can be considered at many levels, from the sporting achievements of an exceptional athlete, to basic mobility in the elderly and to the ability to carry out activities of daily living for patients, becoming an element with important implications on quality of life. An integrative approach is necessary to provide an understanding of the normal determinants and limitations of performance and also to provide an adequate framework within which dysfunction of a particular organ or system can be interpreted. This group of lectures will describe the physiological responses to exercise, comparing the differences that can be found between healthy subjects and patients with different disease. In addition, the nature of the fatigue process will be examined and the adaptations that occur in response to training and physical deconditioning will be explained. The course is intended for students who have a future interest in pulmonology, cardiology, anesthesia, and sports medicine.
Course Prerequisites
Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, General Pathology
Teaching Methods
Frontal lessons Practical activities with healthy subjects and patients Small group discussions of clinical cases
Assessment Methods
Written exam with multiple choice quiz
Texts
Sietsema, Sue, Stringer & Ward Principles of Exercise Testing and Interpretation: Including Pathophysiology and Clinical Applications Wolters Kluwer
Steinacker & Ward The Physiology and Pathophysiology of Exercise Tolerance Macmillan International Higher Education (Springer)
McArdle, Katch & Katch Exercise Physiology: Nutrition, Energy, and Human Performance Wolters Kluwer
Contents
Physiology of Exercise Pathophysiology of disorders limiting Exercise Tolerance Systemic Limitations to Maximum Exercise in Health Clinical Exercise Testing Exercise (in)tolerance in Chronic Respiratory Disease Exercise in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease Enhancing Exercise Tolerance in Health and Disease
