Exercise Physiology & Sports Performance Testing Flashcards

During progressive dynamic aerobic exercise, which blood pressure pattern is most characteristic?

Answer: Systolic pressure rises while diastolic pressure remains stable or decreases slightly

During dynamic aerobic exercise, increased cardiac output raises systolic BP while peripheral vasodilation in working muscles keeps diastolic BP stable or slightly reduced.

Compared to untrained individuals, endurance-trained athletes achieve higher maximal cardiac output primarily due to:

Answer: Greater stroke volume from cardiac hypertrophy and enhanced ventricular filling

Endurance training causes eccentric cardiac hypertrophy that increases end-diastolic volume and stroke volume, driving higher maximal cardiac output without requiring a higher maximum heart rate.

Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) is most commonly triggered by:

Answer: Inhalation of cold, dry air during high-intensity exercise

Cold, dry air inhaled during intense exercise dries and cools airway mucosa, triggering mast cell mediator release and bronchoconstriction characteristic of EIB.

In a healthy trained athlete exercising at sea level, arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) during maximal effort would most likely:

Answer: Remain above 95% as pulmonary function is rarely the limiting factor

Healthy athletes at sea level maintain SpO2 above 95% during maximal exercise because pulmonary diffusion capacity and ventilation are adequate to meet oxygen transport demands.

The primary mechanism by which aerobic endurance training improves VO2 max is:

Answer: Increasing stroke volume and therefore maximal cardiac output

Aerobic training raises stroke volume through cardiac eccentric hypertrophy and plasma volume expansion, increasing maximal cardiac output and oxygen delivery to muscles.

During maximal exercise, which mechanism most significantly enhances oxygen release from hemoglobin to working muscles?

Answer: Rightward shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve due to acidosis and increased temperature

The Bohr effect causes a rightward shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve in response to acidosis, elevated CO2, and increased temperature, facilitating O2 unloading at working muscle.

A drop in systolic blood pressure during graded exercise testing is clinically significant because it most often indicates:

Answer: Left ventricular dysfunction or significant myocardial ischemia

A failure of systolic BP to rise, or its decline during progressive exercise, is a serious indicator of impaired left ventricular function or significant myocardial ischemia and is a criterion for test termination.