Skeletal and muscular responses and adaptations

Overview

Joints in exercise and warm-ups, bone strengthening, tendons, muscle metabolism, fibre recruitment in sprinting and endurance, hypertrophy, force production and losing adaptations.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   How do joints respond during exercise?

   Model answer

   Joints are mobilised as synovial fluid becomes warmer and less viscous. Movement becomes freer and smoother.

2. 2

   Why does warming up improve joint mobilisation?

   Model answer

   Gentle movement increases the production and warmth of synovial fluid. The fluid lubricates the joint and nourishes the cartilage.

3. 3

   How does regular weight-bearing exercise strengthen bones?

   Model answer

   Stress on bones stimulates them to lay down more calcium and become denser. Stronger bones are less likely to fracture.

4. 4

   How do tendons and connective tissue adapt to training?

   Model answer

   Tendons and ligaments become thicker and stronger with regular loading. Joints become more stable and resistant to injury.

5. 5

   What metabolic changes occur in muscles during exercise?

   Model answer

   Muscles break down more ATP, glycogen and fat to release energy. Heat, carbon dioxide and, in intense exercise, lactic acid are produced.

6. 6

   What is fibre recruitment?

   Model answer

   Fibre recruitment is the activation of more muscle fibres as the force needed increases. Slow-twitch fibres are used first, then fast-twitch fibres.

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