2024

Physiology and Female Physical Activity Programmes

Name: Physiology and Female Physical Activity Programmes
Code: DES10232M
3 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours
Scientific Area: Human Kinetics

Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

Learning Goals

At the end of the curricular unit students should:
- know the main differences in physiological terms of women throughout life.
- identify key components of functional fitness and realize its importance in women's health
- understand the specific physiological consequences of women and its implications for exercise prescription
- apply functional assessment protocols and use that information in developing individual programs of exercise
- keep up the effects of intervention programs to the level of physiological variables, but also perceptual-cognitive skills
- take into account the implications that the application of different types of programs is likely to have in the different components of physical fitness of women.
- collect and interpret critically relevant scientific information on the topics addressed.
- acquire the ability to communicate ideas and scientific knowledge (on oral and written forms) about the main issues using an organized and coherent language.

Contents

1. Introduction to physiology in female subjects
1.1. Conceptual introduction
1.2. Description of metabolic and hormonal features trough lifespan (pre-menarche, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause and older age)
1.3. Implications of the characteristics of women in the physiology of effort.
1.4. Changes of health that characterize women: indications and contraindications
1.5. Fitness and women
2. Specific psychosocial and cultural aspects
3. Some specific features of the prescription of physical exercise in female subjects
3.1. Exercise and age
3.2. Exercise and menstrual cycle
3.3. Classic exercise in women and community
3.4. Specific implications for labor

Teaching Methods

The unit is organized in lectures, practical classes and tutorials according to the regulation school of the University of Évora. Lectures are plenary and based on the scientific method, emphasizing the search for information, the interpretation of experimental results and a critical and scientific rigor.

In laboratory classes, students must participate actively in the preparation and execution of work, in group discussions about the activities, and on individual reports. These classes also will be utilized for developing in the students skills of exercise prescription in a real situation.

The assessment includes questions in during the classes and the presentation and discussion by the students of relevant scientific articles. Besides the presentation of this work, students will be assessed through a written exam or frequency.

In addition to classroom work, there will be an investment in the distance working primarily through resources available in Moodle.

Teaching Staff