Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part 1 Basic physiology underlying the study of physiology of exercise: The why of physiology of exercise -- Structure of muscle tissue -- Energetics of muscular contraction and adaptations to training at the cellular level -- The physiology of muscle contraction -- The nervous system and coordination of muscular activity -- The heart and exercise -- The circulatory system and exercise -- The lungs and external respiration -- Gas transport and internal respiration -- Exercise metabolism -- Part 2 Physiology applied to health and fitness: Health benefits: prophylactic and therapeutic effects of exercise -- Physical fitness testing -- Physical conditioning for health and fitness (prescription of exercise) -- Exercise physiology in the prevention and rehabilitation of cardiovascular disease -- Metabolism and weight control -- Age and exercise -- Part 3 Physiology of training and conditioning athletes: Physiology of muscle strength -- Development of muscular and circulorespiratory endurance -- Efficiency of muscular activity -- Speed -- Flexibility -- Physiology of muscle soreness - cause and relief -- Warming up and cooling down -- Environment and exercise -- Nutrition for athletes -- Special aids to performance -- The female in athletics -- The unified athlete: monitoring training progress.