Exam questions

Question 1

Explain the importance of carbohydrates for athletes

Answer 1

Key for ATP provision for exercise intensities from over 30 seconds up to ultra distance efforts
impact of carbohydrate depletion and the benefits of carbohydrate ingestion and loading
ability to perform high intensity exercise

Question 2

explain the importance of proteins for exercise performance

Answer 2

biological, functional and nutritional aspects

central place of enzymes

Question 3

explain the biochemical factors which are associated with the ability to run 400m as fast as possible

Answer 3

80%/30% anaerobic/ aerobic split
high muscle strength and power output
higher percentage fast twitch muscles
these have a high velocity of shortening and high ATP utilisation rates
well developed glycolytic and PCr capacity
bigger muscles, more protein, more cross bridges
sprint training can benefit buffering capacity
nutrition may contribute (creatine)

Question 4

indicate some of the factors which influences the rates at which enzyme catalyse reactions

Answer 4

temperature, pH, concentration of enzymes and substrate
cofactors
kinetics
connection between enzyme function and exercise

Question 5

explain the biochemical determinants of anaerobic capacity

Answer 5

glycolytic capacity and phosphocreatine activity and fast twitch muscle fibres
buffering capacity
anaerobic training and interventions (creatine)

Question 6

explain the key biochemical processes involved in the recovery from exercise and any interventions which can influence these to enhance recovery

Answer 6

restoring PCr and ATP 
lactate removal 
Ph restoration 
glycogen replacement 
tissue repair

Question 7

how should we train to increase endurance and what are the biochemical adaptations to endurance training

Answer 7

progression, frequency, intensity duration, type
increases in mitochondrial size, density and activity
increased ability to oxidise both lipid and carbohydrate
intramuscular stores of myoglobin, glycogen

Question 8

explain why exercise intensity and muscle fibre composition determine the biochemical response to exercise

Answer 8

muscle fibre types activation

different energy systems available

Question 9

Explain why buffering and pH are important concepts in some types of exercise

Answer 9

pH changes arising from dissociation of lactic acid into hydrogen and lactate ions - fatigue
high intensity training interventions

Question 10

Explain the biochemical causes of fatigue during endurance exercise

Answer 10

endurance= sustained activity 30-180 min
glycogen depletion
fat oxidation can only sustain 50-60% of v02 max