Practical Guide to Exercise Physiology

A highly visual exercise physiology resource―fully updated in this third edition.

Practical Guide to Exercise Physiology, Third Edition, takes a straightforward approach to teaching students and health and fitness professionals the fundamentals of exercise physiology, metabolism, and nutrition. Vivid medical illustrations make this a clear and easy-to-follow resource on the basic principles of exercise physiology.

The text explores trending fitness concepts such as HIIT, periodization, and retraining. The third edition of Practical Guide to Exercise Physiology has been updated throughout with user-friendly examples and new references to further support the readers’ learning. Key updates include these:

• A new chapter on training during pregnancy
• A new chapter discussing training masters athletes
• Refreshed Performance Nutrition Spotlights elements, which offer advice and tips on using nutrition to support adaptations and improve performance
• Updated artwork and photos that provide visual learning opportunities
• Revisions to the Index of Common Questions From Clients, which collects the most common inquiries from clients and points to the corresponding chapter where each of those topics is covered, helping readers to quickly access the information

Bringing intricate physiological processes to life, Practical Guide to Exercise Physiology teaches readers how the body responds and adapts to physical activity. A foundation in exercise physiology prepares readers to select appropriate training programs and explain them to others. The included web resource provides 22 practical checklists available as downloadable Word documents as well as case scenarios to assist students in working with athletes and clients.

Part I reviews human physiology fundamentals, including muscles and muscle adaptation, bioenergetics, and the cardiorespiratory system. Part II applies these scientific concepts to training programs designed for specific fitness goals. These goals include weight loss and improvements in strength and muscle mass, speed and power, and aerobic endurance. Part III of the text outlines special considerations for training with pregnant women, children, and older adults.

Practical Guide to Exercise Physiology, Third Edition, will leave readers feeling confident in designing exercise programs for various populations and in their ability to explain to clients how science-based training will help them achieve their goals.

Earn continuing education credits/units! A continuing education exam that uses this book is also available. It may be purchased separately or as part of a package that includes both the book and exam.

Bob Murray, PhD, FACSM, was a cofounder of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) and served as its director from 1985 to 2008. Dr. Murray oversaw a comprehensive program of GSSI- and university-based research in exercise science and sport nutrition, setting industry standards and consumer expectations for science-based product efficacy.

A native of Pittsburgh, Dr. Murray earned his BS and MEd degrees in physical education at Slippery Rock University. He was an assistant professor of physical education and head swimming coach at Oswego State University from 1974 to 1977 before earning his PhD in exercise physiology from Ohio State University. He was an assistant and associate professor in the department of kinesiology at Boise State University from 1980 to 1985 before relocating to Chicago to begin work with Gatorade. In 2008, Dr. Murray founded Sports Science Insights LLC, a consulting group that helps clients with projects in exercise science and sport nutrition. An author of numerous publications in scientific texts and journals, and an invited speaker at professional meetings worldwide, Dr. Murray is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and an honorary member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. He and his wife, Linda, live in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

W. Larry Kenney, PhD, FACSM, FAPS, is the Marie Underhill Noll Chair in Human Performance and a professor of physiology and kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Kenney was awarded the prestigious Faculty Scholar Medal by Pennsylvania State University for his research contributions. He has published more than 220 journal articles and dozens of book chapters on the topic of human responses to exercise, heat and cold stress, and dehydration as well as the biophysics of heat exchange between humans and the environment. He was continuously funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 1986 through 2015, one of the longest-running R01 grants. Over the years, he has mentored 38 MS or PhD students along with 8 postdoctoral fellows and numerous undergraduate scholars.

Dr. Kenney is the primary author of Physiology of Sport and Exercise, a best-selling textbook in exercise physiology. He served as president of the American College of Sports Medicine from 2003 to 2004 and received the Citation Award from that organization in 2008. He is also a fellow of the American Physiological Society and was presented with the Adolph Distinguished Lectureship Award by that organization in 2017. He is the former chair of the Gatorade Sports Science Institute and serves on many scientific advisory panels, including Nike’s Science Advisory Board.