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This module considers the human capacity to exercise in, and adapt to, the conditions encountered in various environments. Students will develop an understanding of how environmental conditions impact on multiple physiological systems and how these systems interact during exposure to, and exercise in, each environment. Strategies that might be adopted to mitigate the effects of the environment will also be considered. The module will provide students with the skills required to advise individuals on the preparation necessary to perform physical activity in these environments.

The indicative content to this module will include: acute physiological responses upon exposure to an unfamiliar environment; adaptation in response to repeated exposure to an environment; physiological assessment of the acute response; hypobaric and hyperbaric environments; physics of heat exchange and exercise in the heat; exercise in the cold.

A student passing this module should be able to:

1. Evaluate critically the effect of the environment on an individual's ability to perform exercise
2. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the physiological mechanisms underpinning the effect of the environment on exercise performance
3. Evaluate critically the relative merits and possible disadvantages of strategies commonly employed to mitigate environmental effects
4. Use and synthesise a variety of physiological measurement techniques to quantify the environmental effect on exercise performance.

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.