Distinguish between the immediate physiological responses to training and physiological adaptations to aerobic training.

Distinguish between the immediate physiological responses to training and physiological adaptations to aerobic training.

The main aim of aerobic training is to increase the capacity of the cardio respiratory system (in particular the ability to deliver fuel and oxygen through the blood), remove bodily wastes and respond appropriately to stress. When we undertake aerobic training, our body responds in a variety of ways. These physiological responses may be immediate - which occur during exercise such as increased heart rate; or adaptations – adjustments that our body makes that occurs over time such as a lower resting heart rate.  
During exercise an athlete’s body experiences a number of immediate physiological changes in response to the increased demand for blood to deliver more oxygen to the working muscles. Changes take place within body organs and tissue. These responses include a change in heart rate, ventilation rate, stroke volume, cardiac output and lactate levels.

Heart rate is the number of times the heart beats each minute. A resting heart rate is approximately 72 beats per minute (bpm). Heart rate increases with exercise, according to the intensity and effort of the exercise. This is called the ‘working heart rate’. Heart rate rises rapidly during short term exercise or from moving quickly to an active state from a non active state. During prolonged exercise, an unfit athlete’s heart rate will continue to rise gradually, and will take longer to recover when returning to resting heart rate after exercising. In contrast, a fit athlete’s hearts rate will be able to reach a ‘steady state’ during prolonged exercise – a period of time where heart rate levels off as oxygen uptake remains at a constant level; and will experience a much faster recovery rate. E.g. it may take a few hours for an unfit person to fully recover, however a fit person may only take half an hour to return to their resting heart rate for the same amount of exercise.
Ventilation rate refers to the volume of air taken into the lungs (inspiration) per minute. It is calculated by...