Application to sport
The ATP system is utilised in sport when quick and explosive movement is needed. The duration in which the ATP is used in sport is around 0-3 seconds. The sporting examples that will utilize this short duration of energy are normally in boxing, when the boxer has to generate a quick punch to an opponent. Other occasions that ATP is needed is while playing football this energy will be summoned when shooting the ball, In Olympic events when the javelin is quickly throwed+ other throwing events e.g. shot put, jumps and short sprints all lasting around 0-3 seconds.Overral this is the initial energy source that the human being uses when involved in sports then the rest follows depending on the duration and intensity.
Phosphate creatine system
When we do an activity of high intensity and low duration, such as 40m , jumping in basketball or weightlifting, our bodies will utilize the ATP-CP system. The phosphatecreatine is a high energy compound stored in our muscles. To resynthesised ATP we will need phosphatecreatine; the phosphatecreatine will be broken down by the enzyme creatine kinas into creatine and free phosphate. Then the energy released from this reaction is utilized to resynthesise ATP.However the duration of energy only lasts for 3-8 seconds, but in the bright side is renewed in the ratio of 1:6. The PC system is very important in high intensity activities with rest periods such as weightlifting or doing the 40 m.
Application to sport
A variety of sports utilise the PC system, this is because the energy is needed for an activity of high intensity and low duration. This energy only last up to 3-8 seconds but its perfect in sports like shot-put,40m, weightlifting, badminton smash and fast sprints in ball games like football or rugby where high intensity is applied with short rest periods. An example of using the pc system can be when weight training. In weigh training high intensity is required with little duration; someone performing a chest exercise will normally do 4 sets per exercise with 1-2 minutes rest period. This utilizes the phosphate creatine system because more than 3 seconds of energy is required per set with a rest in between. Another good example of a sporting activity can be the 40 metre sprint. The 40 metre sprint requires the individual to sprint to his/her best potential in less than 8 seconds. After the individual finishes he/she has the recovery ratio of 1:6 to renew the creatine phosphate system. Furthermore some sports need this energy system more than others, for example 40 metres sprint depends on this energy system because it last for 3-8 seconds which is perfect because it nearly matches with the duration of the 40 metres, and the rate of ATP production is really high but other sporting activities like the ultra marathon depends on the other energy source that is aerobic system because that energy lasts for hours unlike the PC energy.
Picture of 100 metre sprint needed
Lactic acid system
Once ATP and PC have run out, our body has another way of providing energy quickly. This system is used when activity is intense and lasts for around three minutes. Examples of activities where we would use this system are 300 metre run with 100% performance, football and rugby (taken into account that our body also use other energy systems like aerobic and PC system in football and rugby).This system relies upon the breakdown of glucose which has been stored in the muscles. When our muscles contract, our body needs fast energy but it does not have enough time to deliver oxygen to the working muscles; so glucose has to be broken down without oxygen. This method is called anaerobic and is referred to as anaerobic glycolysis.As our body breaks down glucose in the muscle to provide the energy to remake ATP,a by-product, lactic acid is produced. Furthermore the lactic acid system releases energy quickly and is therefore responsible for supplying ATP in high intensity, short term exercises such as a 300 m run or a 100m swim.
Application to sport
This system is widely used in moderate to high intensity activities such as in Tennis, Football, rugby and 300m run. For example in the 300 m run, our body would need this system because it does not have enough time to deliver oxygen to the working muscles therefore glucose has to be broken down without oxygen. Another reason why this energy system is suitable with a 300 m is because the duration is similar to duration of a race, although it depends how intense the individual wants to go. If taking part in the 300m then the individual has to do the race with 100% intensity. Nevertheless there are some other sports that can put less intensity to last longer such as in boxing, it requires about 80-90% intensity to run from the one end to the other including avoiding tackles and sometimes reducing speed to weave pass players. Overall the lactic acid system is utilized by some important sports because it lasts long enough to complete the certain aim e.g. crossing the finish line of the 300 m race.
Aerobic system
Our Aerobic system produces the largest amounts of energy. However this system distinguishes from the other systems because it requires oxygen to break down glucose or fat and produce energy for the remake of ATP. Our aerobic system will produce carbon dioxide, water and heat as waste products of the aerobic breakdown of glucose and fats. The carbon dioxide is breathed out with some of the water which can also be lost as sweat when the heat is dissipated from our body. When we play sports and it goes beyond a certain limit of duration then this system is used. This system is especially needed for certain repetitive activities such as ultra marathon, 50 k walk and 50k cycle.
Application to sport
All the energy systems work together and when one can’t go any further such as the lactic acid system in a kick phase in 1500 m then the aerobic system takes on. The aerobic system is needed in sport when we go beyond of 3 minutes of exercising. This system is needed for sport that requires a long duration with low intensity so we can say the opposite of the 100 m which is high intensity and short duration. Sports like marathon, skating 10 k, 50 k walk and 50 k cycle need this system because it goes well with the long duration and low intensity (<60%).However since the aerobic system energy sources are glycogen(carbs) and fat, and both provide good energy source. The fat source can provide us to do longer duration such as the ultra marathon that can last for hours and glycogen can provide us with the energy to do the 5-42km run.Overral this system will be always be used once we exercise for a long duration, but it will always get assisted by the other energy systems because all three systems are always in operation during exercise and even at rest. In the example of a marathon run ,in the first couple of minutes of the race the individual will gain energy from the ATP-CP system and the lactic acid system, until the individual reaches steady state and then the aerobic system can match the demands of the race.
