human athlete

1
INTRODUCTION

• human athlete
• 100 meter sprints
• 100 km ultramarathon
• top speeds
• human sprinters
• 22 mph
• ultramarathon
• 10mph
• up to 100 km

2

• equine athlete
• Thoroughbreds
• 1000-3000 m
• endurance horses
• 80-160 km (50-100 miles)
• Quarter Horses
• over 400 m tracks
• top speed 44 mph

3

• racing dogs
• greyhound
• 250 m sprints to long distance races of 600-1000
  m
• 37 mph during races up to500 m
• husky
• Iditarod (Fairbanks to Nome)
• 1049 miles in 12-14 days
• racing camel
• 4-10 km
• 22 mph

4
Comparison of Organs, of Body Weight
5
Comparison of Organs, of Body Weight
6
Comparison of Organs, of Body Weight
7
Muscle Fiber Composition

• human athlete
• sprinters type II
• 75
• endurance type I
• gt 75
• Thoroughbred racehorse
• sprinters type II
• gt 80
• endurance type I
• 30

8
Athletic Ability

• genetics
• environment
• athletic nutrition
• track surfaces
• shoes
• jockey
• training
• training methodology

9
Hemoglobin concentration
Mechanics
Gas exchange
ATHLETIC PREFORMANCE
Anaerobic capacity
Heart size
Skeletal muscle properties
10
Techniques for Research of the Athletic Species

• treadmill
• respiratory gas analysis
• heart rate
• blood samples
• muscle biopsies

11
Form and Function

• built to cover terrain quickly and easily
• efficiently refuel with relatively low-energy
  food sources
• body structure and shape conducive to carrying
  man
• natural saddle over center of mass rider and
  mount are in balance
• rider can easily influence motion of horse by
  shifting their weight
• center of mass high off ground horse can lose
  balance if not in tune with the rider
• long neck for easy grazing head for balance of
  weight
• head and neck provide steering for rider
• horse typically follows its head
• gallop rocking horse motion
• requires less energy
• little motion for the rider

12

• horse can speed over a distance to outrun
  predators
• can attain top speed in a short period of time
  (7-10 sec)
• can run 2 times as fast as a human
• stride can be 4 times the length of its body
• legs are not to long they will interfere
• legs operate like springs due to tendons and
  ligaments
• large body mass hinders sudden movements for the
  rider
• hoof
• replaces itself continuously in response to
  demand
• hoof wall is hard - resistant to injury
• structurally provides easy attachment of a shoe
  for further protection
• nervous system has self-protective responses

13
Magnificent Machinery

• endurance level to outlast predators due to
  aerobic capacity
• respiratory system has superior ability to
  deliver O2 to muscles
• breathing directly correlates to stride frequency
  
• heart rate 30-40 bpm to 240 bpm
• spleen provides more RBC (hemoglobin) to carry O2
  to muscles initiated by epinephrine due to
  excitement or exercise
• horse is more effective at recycling lactic acid
  than man
• efficient cooling system due to sweat and
  respiration

14
Behavior

• Herd instinct - mentally better to work with
• safety in numbers
• willing to follow the leader of the herd (person)

15
Dysfunction

• digestive system
• developed to graze continuously, not stable
  life
• lungs
• have primitive internal structure
• have only a few sentinel cells to defend
  against foreign invaders
• joints
• force on limbs - bone can adapt, but cartilage is
  not as resilient
• lower legs have not muscle fine line between
  conditioning and breakdown
• back
• stronger than most animals, but still need a
  saddle for extended use
• instinct
• horse may shy and bolt due to natural instincts