The effects of exercise

Assessment

In your Assessment at the end of this Unit, you will be asked to:

  • Describe the long-term and short-term effects of exercise on the main body systems.

This will help you to satisfy assessment criterion 2.2 for this Unit. You’ll find lots of useful information on this page to help you complete this part of your Assessment.

Now that we have learned about the main body systems, let’s take a look at how exercise can affect these systems. We will look at:

  • Short-term effects (these are the immediate responses your body makes when exercising)
  • Long-term effects (these are more permanent adaptations to the body system as a result of exercise).

Click through the slides below to learn more about the effects of exercise on the main body systems.

  • Cardiovascular system

    Short-term effects of exercise:

    • The heart contracts more often, which raises the heart rate and increases blood flow around the body
    • Blood is diverted to the muscles from other body systems (such as the digestive system)
    • Blood temperature rises
    • Blood vessels near the skin open up so that heat can be released from the body.

    Long-term effects of exercise:

    • Heart muscle becomes bigger and stronger; this helps it to work more effectively
    • Reduced risk of heart disease (and other related diseases)
    • Resting heart rate is lower, which leads to quicker recovery from exercise
    • The heart is able to pump more blood around the body
    • Increase in the volume of blood and red blood cells.

  • Digestive system

    Short-term effects of exercise:

    • Exercise can help to relieve digestive problems such as heartburn, constipation and stomach cramps
    • Some sports, in particular strenuous endurance events, can cause competitors to have an upset stomach (they may suffer from vomiting and/or diarrhoea).

    Long-term effects of exercise:

    • Exercise helps to improve the blood flow in your body, which can help with digestion
    • Exercising regularly keeps your body in motion, this motion prevents the digestive system from slowing down and keeps it working effectively
    • Regular exercise can help to reduce the appetite and also increase the body’s metabolism.

  • Muscular system

    Short-term effects of exercise:

    • Muscles contract more often
    • Increased blood flow to muscles
    • Rise in muscle temperature – this helps the muscles to stretch much more, both during and after the exercise
    • As the muscles are working harder/contracting more often, they use up more energy.

    Long-term effects of exercise:

    • Muscles, tendons and ligaments get bigger and stronger – this means that they are better able to deal with the demands of exercise
    • As the muscles grow bigger and stronger, more oxygen can be stored in them and used for fuel – this means that the muscles can work for longer periods of time
    • Body fat reduces as muscles increase in size
    • Muscular endurance is improved.

  • Nervous system

    Short-term effects of exercise:

    • Exercise can improve a person’s mood and help them to deal with feelings of stress/anxiety
    • Exercise generally reduces the stress that is placed on your body – for example, lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow/circulation and heart function
    • As you exercise, your blood circulation is increased and more oxygen reaches your brain. Also, as more blood flows to the brain, it can help to improve concentration and memory skills.

    Long-term effects of exercise:

    • Research has shown that regular exercise can protect your brain and keep it working to its best ability
    • Performing repetitive exercises over a prolonged period of time can train the brain – this helps to develop quicker reactions, balance and good coordination.

  • Respiratory system

    Short-term effects of exercise:

    • The diaphragm begins to contract more quickly – this leads to an increased rate of breathing as well as an increased depth of breathing
    • The body starts to use up oxygen which causes an increase in the respiratory process, so that more energy can be used by the body as fuel.

    Long-term effects of exercise:

    • Breathing muscles (such as the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles) become stronger
    • Stronger breathing muscles mean that more oxygen can be delivered to the body and more carbon dioxide can be removed from the body
    • Lungs become better able to extract oxygen from the air
    • Increase in vital capacity (this is the amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled as soon as possible after breathing in).

  • Skeletal system

    Short-term effects of exercise:

    • Exercise increases the temperature of synovial fluid in joints – this helps to make joints more supple and increases the amount of movement that can be achieved at a particular joint.

    Long-term effects of exercise:

    • Increase in bone width and density (this makes the bones stronger)
    • Joints are more stable and flexible
    • Exercise helps increase bone strength and some exercise helps strengthen the ligaments by making them work harder.