# 1 Applying a multidisciplinary approach

The introduction to this course highlighted that you will be using a multidisciplinary approach to examine contemporary issues from a variety of perspectives. The three disciplines of study that you will draw on are defined in Box 1.

## Box 1 Definitions of disciplines

Sport and exercise physiology is a branch of physiology concerned with how the body adapts physiologically to the short-term stress of exercise or physical activity, and the long-term stress of physical training and competition. For example, a sport physiologist may examine the effect of high amounts of exercise on the systems of the body.

Sport and exercise psychology is the scientific study of behaviour in sport and the application of the principles of psychology to sport and exercise situations. These principles may be applied to enhance performance and improve the quality of a sports performer’s experience.

Sociology of sport and exercise is the study of interactions between sport/exercise, society and culture. For example, a sociological perspective may look at the effect of gender or ethnicity on sport and exercise participation.

(Adapted from Kent, 2007)

You will start your study of extreme endurance sports by assessing what is meant by this term and then applying the discipline of sport and exercise psychology.

OpenLearn - Extreme endurance performances
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