OCR A-Level PE exercise physiology: a complete overview of Component 01 Section B

What this section demands

Exercise physiology is Section B of Component 01. It applies the body systems from Section A to training, fuelling, recovery, the environment and injury. The exam rewards precise knowledge of mechanisms and, above all, applying them to a named performer and a clear training goal. This overview ties the dot-point pages together.

Diet, nutrition and ergogenic aids

A balanced diet supplies carbohydrate (the main fuel for moderate-to-high intensity), fat (low intensity, long duration), protein (growth and repair), micronutrients (iron, calcium and more) and water. Endurance athletes use glycogen loading to delay fatigue and careful hydration to protect plasma volume. Legal ergogenic aids include creatine (the ATP-PC system), caffeine (sparing glycogen), bicarbonate (buffering hydrogen ions) and nitrates (oxygen efficiency), each with trade-offs. See the diet, nutrition and ergogenic aids page.

Training methods and adaptations

Training follows the principles of specificity, progressive overload (via FITT), reversibility, recovery and individual differences, organised by periodisation. Methods match the goal: continuous, fartlek and HIIT for aerobic and anaerobic fitness, weights and plyometrics for strength and power, and PNF and other stretching for flexibility. Over months these cause adaptations such as cardiac hypertrophy, bradycardia, more capillaries and mitochondria (endurance) or fast-fibre hypertrophy and larger phosphocreatine stores (power), raising VO2 max, OBLA and strength. See the training methods and adaptations page.

Recovery and EPOC

After exercise, EPOC keeps oxygen use elevated. The fast (alactacid) component restores ATP, phosphocreatine and oxygen-myoglobin; the slow (lactacid) component removes lactate (mostly oxidised and reused) and supports raised physiological activity. An active cool-down, rehydration, carbohydrate intake and sleep speed recovery. See the recovery and EPOC page.

Environmental effects on performance

Altitude lowers the partial pressure of oxygen, impairing aerobic performance, but the EPO response raises red blood cells for a sea-level benefit (live-high-train-low). Heat and humidity stress thermoregulation: humidity stops sweat evaporating, core temperature rises, and sweating cuts plasma volume. Acclimatisation, hydration, pre-cooling and pacing help. See the environmental effects on performance page.

Injury prevention and rehabilitation

Injuries are acute or chronic, with intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. Prevention uses warm-ups, screening, conditioning and protective equipment. Acute management follows PRICE (with SALTAPS pitch-side), and rehabilitation progresses from swelling control to range of movement and strength, to proprioceptive training, to a graded functional return. See the injury prevention and rehabilitation page.

Check your knowledge

Attempt these, then check the solutions.

1. State the FITT principle and what each letter stands for. (2 marks)
2. Name the fast component of EPOC and state what it restores. (2 marks)
3. Explain in one sentence why aerobic performance falls at altitude. (2 marks)
4. List the five steps of PRICE. (2 marks)
5. Give one benefit and one drawback of creatine for a sprinter. (2 marks)