Chapter 1
The Emergence of
Exercise Science
• Exercise Science
• Parent Disciplines of Exercise Science
Foundational Subdisciplines of
Exercise Science
• Psychology
• Physics
• Biology & Chemistry
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• History & Sociology
Choosing a Specialty
• Most undergraduate programs in exercise
science do not emphasize a particular
subdiscipline
• Thought towards a career alternative can
identify appropriate minor fields of study to
advance your career path
Appropriate Minor Fields
• Health & Fitness
• Exercise Physiology
• Sport Psychology
• Biomechanics
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Historical Overview of Exercise
Science
• Biomechanics
• Motor Behavior
• Exercise Physiology
Biomechanics
Foundations (pre-1900)
• Edward Hitchcock, Jr.
– Associate Professor in the Department of
Hygiene and Physical Education (1861-1911)
Biomechanics
Foundations (cont.)
• Dudley Sargent: Harvard University, 1879
– Studied the measurement of various aspects
of physical fitness
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Biomechanics
Pre-emergence: Kinesiology
(1900--1966)
• 20th century
– Widespread development of kinesiology
courses in undergraduate physical education
programs
Biomechanics
Pre-emergence: Kinesiology (cont.)
• TK Cureton
– Founded the Physical Fitness Research Laboratory
at the University of Illinois (1948)
– Published numerous papers in psychomotor
measurement, fitness, and exercise physiology
• Technical advances in the use of cinematography
in the analysis of movement
• Basmajian (1962) published text on
electromyography (electrical activity of muscles)
Biomechanics
Pre-emergence: Kinesiology (cont.)
• JW Bunn (1955)
– Text: Scientific Principles of Coaching (1955)
– Presented the mechanics in sport from an
engineer’s perspective
• Kinesiology giving way to biomechanics
– Advent of doctoral-level specialties in
biomechanics w/n Departments of Physical
Education
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Biomechanics
The Subdiscipline (1966--present)
• Significant events
– Journal of Biomechanics (1968)
– International seminar in biomechanics held for
the first time in U.S. (1973)
– American Society of Biomechanics
established (1973)
– Publication and standards for undergraduate
kinesiology courses
Biomechanics
The Subdiscipline (cont.)
• Development of another subdiscipline of
biomechanics
Motor Behavior
Foundations (Pre-1945)
• Sherrington’s definitive 1906 work in
neurophysiology results in the coining of the
word “proprioception”
• Coleman Griffin (1925) establishes the Athletic
Research Laboratory
– Begins teaching courses and publishing in exercise
and sport psychology
• WWII
– Interest in training pilots for the war effort
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Motor Behavior
Pre-emergence (1945--1966)
• Physical educators emerge as a force in the
development of motor behavior
• Significant published works
– Lawther, “The Psychology of Coaching” (1951)
– BJ Cratty, “Movement Behavior and Motor Learning”
(1964)
– Bilodeau & Bilodeau, “Principles of Skill Acquistion”
(1969)
Motor Behavior
The Subdiscipline (1966--Present)
• Research begins to ∆ from descriptive to
examination and explanation of causes
– ∆s closely tied to ↑d specialization in graduate
physical education programs
– Stronger preparation in psychology &
statistics
Motor Behavior
The Subdiscipline (cont.)
• Motor learning & motor development texts published
(1967, 1968)
• North American Society for the Psychology of Sport
& Physical Activity (NASPSPA) established
(1967)
• Journal of Sport Psychology established (1979)
• Exercise & Sport Psychology established as a
division of the American Psychological
Association (1986)
• Sport Psychologist established (1987)
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Motor Behavior
The Subdiscipline (cont.)
• Maturation of subdisciplines (motor control,
motor learning & motor development)
• ↑ing interaction w/ other disciplines
(physiology, psychology, physics)
Exercise Physiology
Foundations (Pre-1945)
Exercise Physiology
Foundations (cont.)
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Exercise Physiology
Pre-emergence (1945--1966)
• Cureton established the Physical Fitness
Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois
(1948)
• American College of Sports Medicine
established (1954)
Exercise Physiology
Foundations (cont.)
• Conant (1962) challenged graduate programs in
exercise physiology to cease until until the physical
educators wishing to enter research careers in
physiology of exercise had obtained the requisite
knowledge to stand on equal footing w/ the
undergraduate majors in these sciences.
• Exercise physiology developed into a respectable
subdiscipline w/n the field of physical education.
Exercise Physiology
The Subdiscipline (1966--Present)
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Exercise Physiology
The Subdiscipline (cont.)
• ACSM’s journal “Medicine and Science in
Sports” established (1969)
• Exercise physiology journal citations
increase
– 1000 (1966)
– 1700 (1976)
– 3000 (1986)
Exercise Physiology
The Subdiscipline (cont.)
• ACSM contributions
– Manual on standardization of professional
preparation
– Guidelines for testing & prescription
• Many physical education programs declined
– Physical educators called themselves “exercise
physiologists” to compete in a market in which
employers were somewhat naïve.
– Louisiana implemented licensure for clinical
exercise physiologists
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