The Centre for Sport and Exercise Science 3 Terminology Page 1

Purpose
References
Glossary
Energy
Exercise
Intensity of Exercise
Endurance
Fatigue
Exhaustion / To promote consistent, clear and unambiguous communication by using terms that, in the context of exercise, can be used correctly.
Bigland-Ritchie, B. and Woods, J.J. (1984). Changes in muscle contractile properties and neural control during human muscular fatigue. Invited reviews in: Muscle and Nerve, 7, 691–699.
Faulkner, J.A. (2003). Terminology for contractions of muscles during shortening, while isometric, and during lengthening. Journal of Applied Physiology, 95, 455-459.
Knuttgen, H.G. (1978). Force, work, power and exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports, 10, 227-228.
Winter, E.M. (1990). Assessing exercise performance - the development of terms. British Journal of Physical Education, Research Supplement, 6, 3-5.
The following terms are defined as indicated:
Provides the capability to perform exercise. Units: joule (J), kilojoule (kJ) or megajoule (MJ).
Any and all activity during which the generation of force produces a disruption of homeostatic state. In dynamic exercise, muscle might shorten (concentric activity), or actually lengthen during the attempt to shorten (eccentric activity). When muscle force results in no movement, the muscle activity should be termed isometric.
A specific level of maintenance of muscular activity that can be quantified in terms of isometric force (N), power (energy expenditure or mechanical work performed per unit time) (W) or speed (m·s-1).
The time limit of a person‘s ability to maintain a specific intensity of exercise.
Any reduction in the force-generating capacity (measured as the MVC), regardless of the task performed.
The complete inability of a muscle or organism to maintain exercise.
Mass
Weight
Force
Velocity
Speed
Work
Power
Torque
Volume
Amount of substance / A quantity of matter of an object, a direct measure of the object's criteria. Mass and weight are not interchangeable. Mass = weight/acceleration due to gravity. Units: gram or kilogram (kg).
The force with which a quantity of matter is attracted towards Earth. Unit: newton (N).
That which tends to accelerate matter. Unit: newton (N).
Rate of change in displacement. This is a vector quantity so direction should be stated strongly or implied. Units: metres per second or kilometres per hour.
Distance covered per unit time with no direction stated or implied.
Force expressed through a distance but with no limitation on time. Unit: joule or kilojoule. Quantities of energy and heat expressed independently of time should also be presented in joules.
The term "work" should not be employed synonymously with exercise.
The rate of performing mechanical work: the derivation of work with respect to time; the product of force and velocity. Unit: watt. Other related processes such as energy release and heat transfer should, when expressed per unit time, be quantified and presented in watts.
The turning effect of a force that tends to produce angular acceleration. Unit: newton·metre.
A space occupied for example, by a quantity of fluid or gas. Unit: cubic metre or cubic decimetre (litre and millilitre are acceptable). Gas volumes should be indicated as ATPS, BTPS or STPD.
That amount of the particular substance which contains the same number of particles as there are in 12 grams of carbon 12. Unit: mole.