Molecular Exercise Physiology: An Introduction

Fully revised and expanded, the second edition of Molecular Exercise Physiology offers a student-friendly introduction. It introduces a history documenting the emergence of molecular biology techniques to investigate exercise physiology, the methodology used, exercise genetics and epigenetics, and the molecular mechanisms that lead to adaptation after different types of exercise, with explicit links to outcomes in sport performance, nutrition, physical activity and clinical exercise.

Structured around key topics in sport and exercise science and featuring contributions from pioneering scientists, such as Nobel Prize winners, this edition includes new chapters based on cutting-edge research in epigenetics and muscle memory, satellite cells, exercise in cancer, at altitude, and in hot and cold climates. Chapters include learning objectives, structured guides to further reading, review questions, overviews of work by key researchers and box discussions from important pioneers in the field, making it a complete resource for any molecular exercise physiology course. The book includes cell and molecular biology laboratory methods for dissertation and research projects in molecular exercise physiology and muscle physiology.

This book is essential reading for upper-level undergraduate or postgraduate courses in cellular and molecular exercise physiology and muscle physiology. It is a valuable resource for any student with an advanced interest in exercise physiology in both sport performance and clinical settings.

Adam P. Sharples, PhD is a Professor in Molecular Physiology and Epigenetics at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NiH), Olso, Norway. An institute ranked 2nd (out of 300) in the world for sport and exercise sciences. He investigates the underlying cellular, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of muscle growth (hypertrophy) and wasting (atrophy) using both cell modelling and whole-body approaches. His work first demonstrated human muscle possesses an ’epigenetic memory’ of exercise.

James P. Morton, PhD is a Professor of Exercise Metabolism at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). His research evaluates the impact of nutrient availability on muscle metabolism during exercise and the molecular regulation of skeletal muscle adaptations to exercise training. James has also worked in a number of performance support related roles across both high performance sport and industry working with some of the world’s most high profile athletes, sports teams and institutions.

Henning Wackerhage, PhD is a Professor and Molecular Exercise Physiologist. He is specifically interested in the molecular mechanisms by which exercise improves our fitness and health. Particularly the role of the so-called Hippo proteins in skeletal muscle and the association between the proteome, metabolome, athletic performance, disease and aging.