Although exercise physiology is relatively new as a defi ned body of knowledge, individuals have been interested in the physiologic responses to physical activity and exercise since the time of the early Greeks (17). The early historic events in medicine, physiology, exercise, and sport that have helped defi ne exercise physiol- ogy have also infl uenced the development of other disciplines in exercise science as well. Many of those important historic events are described in Chapter 1, and the reader is directed to review that information for a broad overview. The mate- rial contained in this section should be considered a supplement to Chapter 1 and will contain only information specifi c to the recent historic development of exercise physiology.
Early Twentieth-Century Infl uences
One of the most signifi cant events for the emergence of exercise physiology as a scientifi c discipline was the establishment in 1891 of the Department of Anat- omy, Physiology, and Physical Training within the Lawrence Scientifi c School at Harvard University (97,98). Faculty and leaders in the department implemented a demanding 4-year science-based curriculum that included both theory and labo- ratory courses in exercise physiology (73,85,97,98). Expansion of this concept of coupling laboratory experiments with course content in exercise and phys- ical training also occurred at Springfi eld College in Massachusetts and George Williams College in Chicago, Illinois (97). Despite the curricular offerings in exer- cise physiology at these universities, there was insuffi cient evidence that exercise physiology had established itself as an academic discipline until the opening of the Harvard Fatigue Laboratory in 1927 (Figure 3.1) (97).
The Harvard Fatigue Laboratory’s primary purpose was to study the physio- logic, psychological, and sociologic responses of industry workers to stressful stim- uli (28,65). The founders of the laboratory included fatigue in the name because it was believed the term would help attract the interest and funding of business
FIGURE 3.1 ▼The Harvard Fatigue Laboratory (ca. 1946). (Photo from Baker Library Historical Collections, Harvard Business School.)
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leaders and because the concept of fatigue could be understood by many indi- viduals without being explained or defi ned (28). The Harvard Fatigue Laboratory attracted high quality scientists from around the world and produced scholars and professionals who would be instrumental in shaping exercise physiology as a scientifi c discipline. Paradoxically, the closure of the Harvard Fatigue Labora- tory in 1947 was instrumental in facilitating the establishment of other exercise physiology laboratories across the United States. Many of the founders of these new laboratories were well-known individuals who had close connections to the Harvard Fatigue Laboratory and helped further expand the development of exer- cise physiology (24,98).
Late Twentieth-Century Infl uences
Beginning in the 1940s, there were a number of signifi cant events that signifi - cantly shaped the discipline of exercise physiology. During this time period, several peer-reviewed journals published data from experiments involving the physiologic responses to exercise (98). By the late 1940s, a suffi cient body of knowledge existed in exercise physiology to merit formal instructional course offerings by colleges and universities. The further development of exercise physiology occurred in response to a number of social, political, and professional factors. Poor performance by American school children on fi tness tests and the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to put a man in space and later land a man on the moon heightened the focus on fi tness and per- formance of the American population. Other instrumental factors included the passage of funding for health-related research, facilities, and educational training programs by the National Institutes of Health; the interest of the American Physi- ological Society (APS) in exercise related research; the publication of the Journal of Applied Physiology by the APS; and the formation of the American College of Sports Medicine and its peer-reviewed journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (97). The interest in exercise and fi tness of many of the early leaders of the ACSM resulted in an increased emphasis on the study of the physiologic responses to exercise (23,24).
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, exercise physiology continued to expand and evolve. As interest in exercise physiology continued to grow, college curricula changed from traditional programs in physical education to more science-related courses and activities. Undergraduate students enrolled in courses in biochemistry and physiology, and participated in a variety of laboratory activities. This change better prepared students to enter professional careers that required a knowledge base in exercise physiology. Students now had an option to pursue a career in exercise physiology rather than be trained as physical education teachers (97).
This trend continues today as many physical education programs require little formal course preparation in physiology and exercise physiology. Conversely, expanded curricula in exercise physiology include topics such as exercise test- ing and prescription, exercise management of chronic disease, advanced study in cellular functions and mechanisms, and genetics though requiring little or no coursework in teacher training.
Since the establishment of the ACSM, numerous organizations have emerged to provide support for other professionals with an interest in exercise physiology.
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In 1997, the establishment of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP) arose from the belief in the need for an organization to solely promote exercise physiology as a profession (see Chapter 11). Although ASEP remains the only orga- nization with exercise physiology in its name, there are numerous other organiza- tions such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) that have promoted the study and development of exercise physiology in health, physical activity, fi tness, sport, and athletic performance. Table 3.1 identifi es some of the important historic events in the development of exercise physiology.
Exercise physiology continues to expand as a discipline and organize as a profession. Students of undergraduate programs with an emphasis in exercise physiology coursework can enter professional careers as certifi ed personal train- ers, health fi tness instructors, exercise specialists, and strength and condition- ing coaches. These professions clearly indicate the role that practical applications of exercise physiology have to healthy and diseased populations. Students can further their educational training by enrolling in master’s and doctoral degree programs to become college and university teachers and researchers in public and private settings. Students of exercise physiology are also very successful in entering into professional programs and schools of medicine, dentistry, chiro- practic, physician assistant, and physical and occu- pational therapy. The role of exercise physiology will continue to be important in our society as we con- tinue to identify how physical activity and exercise can improve health and reduce disease risk and as we continue to seek improvements in sport and ath- letic performance.
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Thinking CriticallyIn what ways has exercise physiology contributed to a broader understand- ing of the role physical activity and exercise play in the promotion of physical fitness and health, as well as the understanding of successful sport and athletic performance?
Table 3.1 Some Significant Historic Events in the Development of Exercise Physiology
YEAR EVENT
1891 Establishment of the Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Physical Training at Harvard University
1927 Opening of the Harvard Fatigue Laboratory at Harvard University
1948 Publication of the Journal of Applied Physiology by the American Physiological Society 1954 Formation of the American College of Sports Medicine
1969 Initial publication of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 1978 Establishment of the NSCA
1985 Formation of the AACVPR
1997 Establishment of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists
2007 Acceptance of the ACSM into the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
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