energy continuum

Question 1

is it just one system being used at once

Answer 1

NO - all three systems are being used at any given time. one is PREDOMINANT.
all systems are active, they INTERCHANGE

Question 2

what does the predominant energy system depend on

Answer 2

• intensity
• duration
• fitness level

Question 3

what is intensity

Answer 3

how hard you are working/how much effort you put into an exercise

Question 4

how does intensity effect the energy continuum

Answer 4

high intensity - anaerobic systems will be predominant (this uses up the anaerobic stores (PCr and muscle glycogen))
low - medium intensity - the aerobic systems will be predominant (aerobic glycolysis and lipolysis)

Question 5

give examples of when intensity effects the predominant energy system

Answer 5

high intensity:
ATP-PC - 90-100% intensity, 100 m sprint
anaerobic glycolysis - 80-90% intensity, 400m sprint
low intensity:
aerobic glycolysis - 60-80% intensity, marathon runner

Question 6

what is duration

Answer 6

how long an exercise lasts for

Question 7

how does duration effect the predominant energy system

Answer 7

long duration:
aerobic glycolysis/lipolysis
short duration:
ATP-PC/anaerobic glycolysis

Question 8

give some examples of when duration effects the energy continuum

Answer 8

long duration:
marathon
short duration:
javelin
800m sprint

Question 9

what is fitness level

Answer 9

the bodies ability to withstand physical workload and recover quickly

Question 10

how does a performers aerobic fitness level effect the energy continuum

Answer 10

• a high aerobic fitness level means that the performer can work in their aerobic zone for longer without reaching their aerobic threshold. this means that they use up their aerobic stores to produce energy with oxygen. these systems produce no by fatiguing products.
• a low aerobic fitness means that the performer reaches their anaerobic threshold sooner so switches to predominantly anaerobic systems to produce energy. this uses up limited supplies of PCr and glucose. anaerobic glycolysis also has fatiguing by products (h- ions) which increases blood acidity (lowers pH) and denatures enzymes and this means that less energy reactions take place so the intensity has to drop.

Question 11

how does having a performers anaerobic fitness level

Answer 11

• a high anaerobic fitness level means that the performer can tolerate fatiguing by products for longer. that can also save their anaerobic energy stores (PCr and muscle glycogen) for later use (e.g. a sprint finish)
• a low anaerobic fitness level means that the performer cant withstand the fatiguing by products produced during anaerobic reactions. this means that the intensity needs to drop to allow them to recover.

Question 12

give examples of anaerobic/aerobic fitness in sports

Answer 12

aerobic fitness - Mo Farah, marathon runner
anaerobic fitness - Usain Bolt , 100m sprinter