Ateneo - UPO

The course covers topics related to biomechanics applied to exercise as a fundamental basis for rehabilitative and physiotherapeutic interventions. The course will address the basic principles of exercise physiology, types of exercise, and rehabilitative implications. Additionally, the metabolic aspect linked to various exercise types will be discussed, along with modifications related to age and the necessary adaptations for elderly patients.

- Cinesiologia del sistema muscolo scheletrico. Neumann D. Piccin
- Fisiologia dell'esercizio. McArdle W.D. Piccin

The course aims to provide the biomechanical foundations of therapeutic exercise by offering basic knowledge related to the main types of exercise and their use in rehabilitation programs for different pathologies. Furthermore, basic metabolic concepts related to different exercise types will be provided.

Basic knowledge of anatomy, physics, and physiology

Lectures/frontal lessons and presentations in MS PowerPoint format.

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Written exam with multiple-choice questions.

Anatomy and physiology of muscle tissue:
- Muscle connective tissue.
- Muscle innervation, motor unit, Golgi tendon organs, and neuromuscular spindles.
- The sarcomere, protein composition, and different types of muscle fibers.
- Elements of muscle contraction physiology.
- Intrinsic factors in muscle tension development. Description of the tension/time curve, force/length relationship of the muscle, and muscle shortening and lengthening speed. Description of the tension/velocity graph, muscle force, and generation of internal angular momentum.
- Types of muscle activation: concentric, eccentric, and isometric. Concept of plyometrics and isokinetic contraction.
- Open and closed kinetic chain. Mono-, bi-, and multi-articular muscles.
Relationships between different muscles (agonists, antagonists, synergists, fixators, and neutralizers). Physical activity, exercise, and basal metabolism. Different types of exercise. Practical examples of open or closed kinetic chain exercises. Different types of muscle energy metabolism. Muscle fiber recruitment in relation to exercise intensity.
Training principles: overload, specificity, individual response, reversibility. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). Relationship between the number of repetitions and the resistive load. Muscle strengthening exercises and aerobic exercise. Heart rate and oxygen consumption. Borg's RPE scale. Deconditioning and aerobic reconditioning. Prescribable exercises for the elderly for disability prevention and treatment. Lifestyle interventions and adapted physical activity.
Exercise measurement. Units of measure for intensity.
METABOLIC EQUIVALENT. Different measurement techniques: DIRECT CALORIMETRY, STABLE WATER, INDIRECT CALORIMETRY, HEART RATE, MOVEMENT SENSORS,
SUBJECTIVE METHODS. Concept of Aerobic and Anaerobic Thresholds, VO2Max, threshold tests. Exercise protocols for obese patients, arthritic patients, and osteoporotic patients. Definition of HIIT and exercise protocols. Core stability and principles of functional training.

Acquisition of skills related to different types of therapeutic exercise with particular attention to their use in various pathologies of rehabilitative interest.