A QUESTION THAT EVALUATES SPECIFICITY

Rushall Thoughts, 1994.

  1. In a 100% race effort certain combinations of physiological capacities are used (e.g., 60% aerobic, 40% anaerobic). What muscle fibers are used? Are those fibers controlled by the brain?

  2. If, in the "same" sporting task, an 80% effort is performed, certain combinations of physiological capacities are used (e.g., 95% aerobic, 10% anaerobic). What muscle fibers are used? Are those fibers controlled by the brain?

  3. Since both activities are performed with the intention of improving a specific performance, which of the very different energy system usages, different muscle fiber recruitments, and discretely different neural control patterns is correct for the competition (race) performance?

  4. What is the mechanism for telling the body that both forms of exercise are supposed to benefit the swimmer in the race performance?

  5. How does the body know it is performing an 80% effort that is INTENDED to benefit the 100% race effort?

WRITE THE ANSWER: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (There is only one answer that is correct for this question).

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