The hidden mechanics of exercise : molecules that move us / Christopher M. Gillen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gillen, Christopher M., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Exercise--Physiological aspects.

Exercise.

Exercise--Molecular aspects.

Human mechanics.

Kinesiology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (352 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts ; London, England : Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2014.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

As anyone who takes up a new sport quickly discovers, even basic athletic moves require high levels of coordination and control. Whether dribbling a basketball or hitting a backhand, limbs must be synchronized and bodies balanced, all with precise timing. But no matter how diligently we watch the pros or practice ourselves, the body's inner workings remain invisible. The Hidden Mechanics of Exercise reveals the microworld of the human body in motion, from the motor proteins that produce force, to the signaling molecules that activate muscles, to the enzymes that extract energy from nutrients. Christopher Gillen describes how biomolecules such as myosin, collagen, hemoglobin, and creatine kinase power our athletic movements. During exercise, these molecules dynamically morph into different shapes, causing muscles, tendons, blood, and other tissues to perform their vital functions. Gillen explores a wide array of topics, from how genetic testing may soon help athletes train more effectively, to how physiological differences between women and men influence nutrition. The Hidden Mechanics of Exercise tackles questions athletes routinely ask. What should we ingest before and during a race? How does a hard workout trigger changes in our muscles? Why does exercise make us feel good? Athletes need not become biologists to race in a triathlon or carve turns on a snowboard. But Gillen, who has run ten ultramarathons, points out that athletes wishing to improve their performance will profit from a deeper understanding of the body's molecular mechanisms.

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Prologue: Molecules in Motion

Chapter 1. Function Follows Form

Chapter 2. An Experiment of One

Chapter 3. The Gene for Gold Medals

Chapter 4. Not Too Fast, Not Too Slow

Chapter 5. Lactic Acid Acquitted

Chapter 6. Catch an Edge

Chapter 7. Your Brain on Exercise

Chapter 8. Live High

Chapter 9. Run Like a Woman

Chapter 10. Drinking Games

Chapter 11. More Gain, Less Pain

Chapter 12. Chasing the Holy Grail

Epilogue: The Next Race

Appendix: Visualizing Protein Structures

Notes

Glossary

Acknowledgments

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780674419926

0674419928

9780674419919

067441991X

OCLC:

871258023