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2º Semestre

Biologia da Actividade Física

6.0

Maria de Fátima Marcelina Baptista

Understanding the functioning of the female reproductive system and its influence:
a) in clinical conditions most prevalent or unique to women, particularly in symptoms and vascular diseases, osteoporosis, cancer, urogenital and cognitive disorders, depression and in response to exercise;
b) in the design and programming exercise during pregnancy and postpartum.

- Physical activity and women’s participation in sports;
- Physiology of women through their life cycle: menstrual cycle, puberty, pregnancy, menopause;
- Physical activity and exercise training: gender differences;
- Sex steroids, hormones and health: osteoporosis, cancer, vascular diseases, urogenital dysfunction, cognition dysfunction and depression;
- The female athlete triad: osteoporosis, amenorrhea and disordered eating;
- Contraceptives and hormonal therapy;
- Women’s Health Initiative: lessons from the largest randomized controlled trial on hormone replacement therapy use;
- Physiological adaptations of pregnant woman to exercise;
- Absolute and relative contraindications for exercising during pregnancy;
- Exercise benefits during pregnancy;
- Recommendations for exercise during pregnancy and postpartum.

The program is developed in two lectures of 1 hour/wk and in one theoretical and practical (TP) of 1.5 hour/wk (or two classes of TP 45 min/wk). The contents with an expositive or applicative predominance are taught in theoretical and TP classes, respectively. Continuous assessment is carried out through two written tests, an oral presentation, and a written work on a case study with the description of a lesson plan. The final grade is the sum of the scores of the written tests (70%), the case study (30%) and the oral presentation (optional, 1 point as maximum bonus). The student is approved with a final grade > 10 if with 50% in each written test, > 3 points in the case study, and TP class attendance > 2/3. The final exam consists of a written and oral examination. The oral examination is compulsory for students with a score > 11 (scale 0-14) in written tests and those who obtain > 50% in the written exam who have not attended at least 2/3 of the TP classes.

Cowlin, AF. Women's Fitness Program Development. Champaign: Human Kinetics, 2002. American Council on Exercise. Pré-and Post-Natal Fitness.
Anthony L (Ed.), Monterey: Healthy Learning Books & Vídeos, 2002.
Baptista, F., and Meyer, N. Actividade física, nutrição e saúde na rapariga e na mulher. In P.J. Teixeira, L.B. Sardinha, & Barata, J.T. (Coord.), Nutrição, Exercício e Obesidade. Lisboa, Lidel – edições técnicas, lda., 2008.