Long term respiratory adaptations to exercise

Answers could include:

• Increase in the size and strength of the heart muscle resulting in it being able to pump more blood per beat.
• Increased stroke volume as the heart increases in size and strength.
• Increased cardiac output at any given heart rate due to increased stroke volume.
• Increase in the maximal amount of blood that can be pumped out of the heart during maximal exercise.
• Increased capacity to deliver oxygen to the working muscles.
• Lower heart rate at rest because of higher stroke volume due to increased size and strength of the heart.
• Increased total blood volume meaning blood can carry more oxygen to the working muscles and more carbon dioxide back to the lungs.
• Increased number of red blood cells meaning blood can carry more oxygen to the working muscles and more carbon dioxide back to the lungs.

Effect on sporting performance:

Performance effects relate to increased cardiovascular fitness and therefore ability to exercise for longer duration and at higher intensities for longer durations. Also, ability to recover quicker following periods of exercise at different intensities.

Effects on health:

Helps to maintain blood pressure in a healthy range.

Resting heart rate will be lower in individuals with higher cardiovascular fitness levels. This is due to an increased resting strike volume resulting from an increase size and strength of the heart that has resulted from cardiovascular exercise/training. As the heart is able to pump more blood out per beat, it doesn’t have to beat so often in a minute to maintain resting cardiac output of 5 L/min. This means resting heart rate is lower.