Description
Book SynopsisThe Hidden Mechanics of Exercise reveals the microworld of the body in motion, from motor proteins that produce force to enzymes that extract energy from food, and tackles questions athletes ask: What should we ingest before and during a race? How does a hard workout trigger changes in our muscles? Why does exercise make us feel good?
Trade ReviewGillen’s enjoyable account emphasizes the molecules and protein structures that allow us to move, run, jump, control fuel use, and regulate adaptations to exercise training… Refreshingly, Gillen approaches the subject from the system down rather than the molecule up. Throughout the book, he emphasizes how tiny changes in protein structures scale up to produce whole-body movements… Gillen offers exercise enthusiasts wishing to understand the science behind their training an interesting read. The book also serves as an engaging primer for exercise-science students who want to begin to understand some of the underlying molecular mechanisms.
The Hidden Mechanics of Exercise introduces concepts that make the step to the specialized textbook or research article easier. At the same time, researchers studying the behavior of the individual molecules may find Gillen’s account enlightening in regard to the functional implications of their work at the whole-body level. -- Stephen D. R. Harridge * Science *
Anyone who has an interest in how the body and mind works in a sporting context will not only gain an insight and much knowledge, but also enjoy the way that the message is put across. * Athletics Weekly *
To most of us, what happens deep inside our bodies when we exercise is a mysterious black box. This entertaining and illuminating book lucidly explains for nonspecialists the marvels of how molecules literally move a body. Gillen provides the ideal introduction to the physiology of exercise for anyone interested in how bodies work. -- Daniel E. Lieberman, author of
The Story of the Human Body
