Physiology of Fitness

Energy systems and their role in

sport and exercise

Learning Outcomes
List the 3 main energy systems and their cellular fuel

Describe the 3 energy systems giving sports related
examples

Explain why some sports require more of one energy system
than another

Measure and record the bodys responses to different types
of exercise

Explain the recorded measurements

Produce a short magazine article describing the three main
energy systems using examples.


Actin & Myosin
What are the
contractile proteins
in muscle?

Actin & Myosin

http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=gJ309
LfHQ3M
http://www.physics31
10.org/images/240_
actin.gif

The key terms to remember
from that clip are:
ATP
ADP + Creatine Phosphate
Myosin
Actin

When ATP is released onto
myosin the chemical bond
breaks releasing a lot of
energy causing actin and
myosin filaments to contract
ie muscle contraction
Contractile
proteins
What is ATP?
ATP is a protein
(Adenosine) with 3
phosphates attached
to it
When chemical bonds
are broken, energy is
released and ATP
becomes ADP
(Adenosine
diphosphate Di=2)
The energy from this
breaking is used to
make muscles contract

The release of energy from ATP
Energy Systems
What are the 3 main
energy systems that
convert chemical fuel
from food into energy?

1. Creatine Phosphate
System

2. Lactic Acid System

3. Aerobic Energy
System

What is this?
The mitochondrion,
shown here, is a tiny
cellular structure that turns
chemical fuel into cellular
energy ie ATP.
Creatine Phosphate System
Creatine Phosphate System
CP System
(immediate energy)
Here ATP is made without
the presence of oxygen.
When exercise intensity is
high, or energy needs are
instantaneous, creatine
phosphate stored in your
muscle is broken down to
provide energy to make
ATP.
Explosive work can be
achieved, but only for short
periods of time at maximum
intensity, as the supply of
creatine phosphate is very
limited, up to 10 seconds.
Activity
List as many sports activities
as possible that use mainly
the CP system.
Creatine Phosphate System
Primary energy source:
Duration of activity:
Sporting events:
Advantages:
Limiting factors:
Stored ATP, CP
7-12 s
Weight lifting, high jump, long jump, 100m
run, 25m swim
Produce very large amount of energy in a
short amount of time
Initial concentration of high energy
phosphates (ATP, PC)
Creatine Phosphate System
Training The CP System
a) Interval training: eg 1min low intensity 1min high intensity
& repeat

- 20% increase in CP (creatine phosphate) stores
- no change in ATP stores
- increase in ATPase function (ATP -> ADP+P)
- increase in CPK (creatine phosphokinase) function
(CPK breaks down CP molecule and allows ATP
resynthesis)

b) Sprint training:

- increase in CP stores up to 40%
- 100% increase in resting ATP stores

Lactic Acid Energy System
Lactic Acid Energy System
high intensity exercise
up to 2 minutes.
ATP is made by the
partial breakdown of
glucose and glycogen.
This is caused by
anaerobic glycolysis
Its an anaerobic
process (no O
2
)

Where does the body store
glycogen?
Muscles
Liver
What is the by-product of
anaerobic glycolysis?
Lactic acid

http://www.youtube
.com/watch?v=JLa
VIPlPm6g&feature=
related

Lactic Acid Energy System
Primary energy source:
Duration of activity:
Sporting events:
Advantages:
Limiting factors:
Stored glycogen, blood glucose
12 s 3 min
Lactic acid build up, H+ ions build up
(decrease of pH)
800m run, 200m swim, downhill ski racing,
1500 speed skating

Ability to produce energy under conditions of
inadequate oxygen
Lactic Acid Energy System
Lactic Acid Energy System
Anaerobic Threshold
The exercise intensity at which lactic acid begins to
accumulate within the blood

The point during exercise where the person begins to feel
discomfort and burning sensations in their muscles

Lactic acid is used to store pyruvate and hydrogen ions until
they can be processed by the aerobic system

Lactic Acid Energy System
The primary source of substrates is carbohydrate
Carbohydrates:
primary dietary source of glucose
primary energy fuels for brain, muscles, heart,
liver

Aerobic Energy System
Primary energy source:
Duration of activity:
Sporting events:
Advantages:
Limiting factors:
Glycogen, glucose, fats, proteins
> 3 min
Lung function, max.blood flow, oxygen
availability, excess. energy demands
Walking, jogging, swimming,
walking up stairs

Large output of energy over a long
period of time, removal of lactic acid
Aerobic Energy System
Aerobic Energy System
Aerobic Energy System
The most important energy system in the human body
Blood lactate levels remain relatively low (3-6mmol/L bl)
Primary source of energy (70-95%) for exercise lasting
longer than 10 minutes provided that:
a) working muscles have sufficient mitochondria to meet
energy requirements
b) sufficient oxygen is supplied to the mitochondria
c) enzymes or intermediate products do not limit the Krebs
cycle
Primary source of energy for the exercise that is
performed at an intensity lower than that of the anaerobic
oxidative system
Aerobic Energy System
Long term energy,
system for light
exercise and every day
movements.
Uses O
2

The production of
energy in the aerobic
system does not start
instantly.... Why?
In groups discuss this
and write down your
agreed answer
Answer:
It takes a few minutes
for the heart to deliver
oxygenated blood to
the working muscles.

Long, continuous
moderate exercise
produces energy using
this system.

Types of Sport that use each system
Remember, energy at any given time
is derived from all 3 energy systems.
However the emphasis changes
depending on:
the intensity of the activity
the efficiency of your aerobic fitness

Energy Systems Summary
1. Creatine Phosphate energy system ...
for very short high intensity exercise
ADP + Phosphocreatine ATP + creatine
requires no O2 but only enough stored for
about 10secs e.g. power lifting...
2. Lactic Acid Energy System: short-term
energy system
Glucose 2 ATP + 2 lactic acid + heat
Glycogen 3 ATP + 2 lactic acid + heat
requires no O2 but produces energy for high
intensity exercise for up to 60 90 secs e.g. 400m
race..

Energy Systems Summary
3. Aerobic Energy System: long-term energy
system
Glucose +O
2
38 ATP + CO
2
+ water + heat

Fatty acids + O
2
129 ATP + CO
2
+ water
+ heat