What is Exercise Science?
Exercise science, a subdiscipline of kinesiology, is a multifaceted field that explores the physiological, biomechanical, and psychological responses and adaptations to exercise and physical activity. It's not just about lifting weights or running marathons; it’s a comprehensive study of how the human body moves, adapts, and performs under various conditions.
At its core, exercise science integrates principles from several disciplines, including physiology, biomechanics, psychology, and nutrition, to understand the human body’s reaction to exercise. This understanding is then applied to improve health, enhance athletic performance, and rehabilitate injuries.
Physiological Aspects of Exercise Science
This aspect delves into how the body's systems—cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, and endocrine—respond to acute and chronic exercise. Exercise scientists study how these systems adapt to different types of training, such as endurance, strength, or high-intensity interval training (HIIT). They examine factors like oxygen uptake, heart rate variability, muscle fiber recruitment, and hormonal responses to exercise. These studies inform the development of effective training programs tailored to individual needs and goals.
The physiological aspects of training also transfer to the general population. At the University of Mount Union, junior students are presented with a unique opportunity to gain relevant real-world experience. Under the supervision of Dr. Katherine Spillios, every student will spend the semester guiding volunteers from the greater Alliance area toward individualized health and fitness goals. From pre-participation screenings and goal setting to fitness testing and guided training, students are responsible for designing and implementing appropriate programs tailored to the needs and wants of each volunteer. Whether it be balance and mobility training, flexibility, or cardiorespiratory fitness, this is a tremendous opportunity for students to see the significant impact that exercise can have on the health and well-being of all people.
Biomechanical Considerations of Exercise Science
Biomechanics focuses on the mechanics of human movement. It examines how forces, motion, and leverage affect performance and injury risk. Biomechanists analyze movement patterns, joint angles, and muscle activation during various activities. This analysis helps optimize technique, reduce the risk of injuries, and improve equipment design. For example, biomechanical analysis can identify improper running form that may lead to knee pain, identify knee valgus that may make someone susceptible to an ACL injury, or determine the optimal angle for a golf swing.
Here at the University of Mount Union, Dr. Tomás Barrett supervises several undergraduate students who utilize our state-of-the-art Motion Analysis Lab to conduct research related to human movement. For example, previous work investigating the impact of distractions on landing mechanics, and how this relates to injury, has been part of research conducted by undergraduate students and presented at the Midwest Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine conference and The Annual Injury Biomechanics Symposium at The Ohio State University.
Braydon Lazzara '24 presenting research
Psychological Dimensions of Exercise Science
At the University of Mount Union, seniors must complete a senior research thesis as a major course requirement for graduation. Students are becoming more and more interested in the psychological dimension of exercise and often pursue questions of how exercise can impact psychological factors, such as motivation, stress, and self-efficacy, which can influence exercise behavior and performance. Additionally, students regularly investigate how exercise affects mental health and well-being, specifically, the benefits of exercise for individuals with mood disorders like depression and anxiety.