OVERVIEW

The teaching of 'Sport Physiology' in the Integrated Course 'Biological and Biomechanical Aspects of Sports Performance 1' provides the elements for understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying motor learning and the role of the neuromuscular system in optimizing sports performance.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The educational objective of the course is to deepen the knowledge of the physiological mechanisms that underlie acute responses to exercise and the functional adaptations of the organism during physical exercise and during sports training, even in particular environmental conditions.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Module focuses on an integrated approach to the study of neural movement control in response to different motor tasks and environmental conditions such as fatigue, motor and cognitive activities, learning new sensorimotor skills, and inactivity. This module will study how the nervous system adapts when humans perform a wide range of motor tasks throughout their lifespan. In particular, this experimental approach is aimed at providing fundamental tools in improving knowledge of the mechanisms underlying neural plasticity and which have functional implications in motor and sports activities.

One must learn: the physiology of movement; the concept of learning new sensorimotor skills and inactivity; and long-term adaptations of nervous control of movement in response to learning new motor tasks.

PREREQUISITES

Notions of physiology acquired during the three-year course.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures.

Cases with certification of DSA, disability, or other special educational needs are advised to contact both the Department representative, Prof. Nicola Girtler, and the teacher at the beginning of classes to agree on teaching and exam methods that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory tools/dispensatives recognized by the University's DSA Student Service.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The structure and function of skeletal muscle

Proprioception

The motor system and in particular spinal reflexes and the control of voluntary movement

The concept of posture and maintaining balance

The neurophysiological basis of motor learning

The concept of neural plasticity and the role of exercise in inducing plasticity

Neuromuscular fatigue

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Purves D. et al. – Neuroscienze – Zanichelli Ed.

JH Wilmore, D.L. Costill - Fisiologia dell’esercizio fisico e dello sport. Calzetti e Mariucci Ed.

Slides of the lessons on AulaWeb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MASSIMILIANO BARDUCO (President)

MARCO PANASCI' (President)

LAURA STURLA (President)

MARCO BOVE (President and Coordinator of Integrated Course)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

1st semester, October.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written test consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions and presentation of scientific work relating to the topics covered in class.