List of contributors. PrefaceSection 1: Limitations and adaptations. Section Introduction - Human adaptation (Roy Shephard).Chapter 1 - Cardiovascular responses to exercise and limitations to human performance )Michael Tschakovsky and Kyra Pyke). Chapter 2 - Pulmonary responses to exercise and limitations to human performance (MIchael Stickland, Markus Amman, Keisho Katayama and Jerome Dempsey). Chapter 3 - Cardiovascular and pulmonary adaptations to endurance training (Daniel Green, Louise Naylor, Keith George, Jerome Dempsey, Michael Stickland and Keisho Katayama). Chapter 4 - Neuromuscular adaptations to exercise (Paavo Komi and Caroline Nicol). Chapter 5 - Central and neuromuscular fatigue (Janet Taylor, Paavo Komi, and Caroline Nicol). Chapter 6 - Cellular mechanisms of skeletal muscle fatigue (David Allen, Graham Lamb and Hakan Westerblad). Chapter 7 - Performance limitations due to substrate availability (Mark Hargreaves). Chapter 8 - Genetics and human performance: natural selection and genetic modification (Geoffrey Goldspink and Christiana Velloso). Chapter 9 - Detraining, bed rest and adaptation to microgravity (Marco Narici, Claire Stewart and Pietro di Prampero). Chapter 10 - Topical debates. 10.1 Maximal exercise: is it limited centrally or peripherally? (Peter Wagner and Niels Secher). 10.2 Human performance and maximal aerobic power (Timothy Noakes and Bjorn Ekblom). 10.3 The anaerobic threshold: fact or misinterpretation (Mike Lindinger and Brian Whipp).Section 2: Gender differences. Section introduction - Our limits of physiological knowledge: the legacy of male-based physiology (Sarah Nunneley).Chapter 11 - Exercise, work and stress in adolescent and adult women (Denise Smith, Patricia Fehling and Jeff Segrave). Chapter 12 - Human performance in the pregnant woman: foetal and materanl considerations (Michelle Motola). Chapter 13 - Physiological bases of health-enhancing physical activity for post-menopausal women (Katriina Kukkonen-Harjula and Tuula-Maria Asikainen). Chapter 14 - Topical debates. 14.1 Physically demanding trades: can women tolerate heavy workloads? (Peter McLennan, Herbert Groeller, Denis Smith and Nigel Taylor). 14.2 Are women narrowing the gender gap in elite sport performance? (Alan Nevill and Greg Whyte).Section 3: Age. Section introduction - Physical activity in the 21st century: challenges for young and old (Pietro di Prampero).Chapter 15 - Physical performance in prepubescent and adolescent males and females: limits, benefits and problems (Thomas Rowland). Chapter 16 - The physiology of ageing in active and sedentary humans (Herbert Groeller). Chapter 17 - Topical debates. 17.1 Thirty minutes of incidental exercise is adequate exercise prescription (Hidde P. van der Ploeg and Adrian Bauman). 17.2 Exercise and aageing: can the biological clock be stopped? (David Proctor and Michael Joyner).Section 4: Environmental extremes. Section introduction - Human performance from the ocean floor to deep space (Nigel Taylor).Chapter 18 - Concepts in physiological regulation: a thermoregularatory perspective (Jurgen Werner, Igor Mekjavic and Nigel Taylor). Chapter 19 - The physiology of acute heat exposure, with implications for human performance (Nigel Taylor, Narihiko Kondo and Larry Kenney). Chapter 20 - The physiology of acute cold exposure, with particular reference to human performance in the cold (Nigel Taylor, Igor Mekjavic and Michael Tipton). Chapter 21 - Physiological adaptation to hot and cold environments (Michael Tipton, Kent Pandolf, Michael Sawka, Jurgen Werner and Nigel Taylor). Chapter 22 - The physiology of water immersion (John Krasney and David Pendergast). Chapter 23 - Diving physiology: free diving, breathing apparatus, saturation diving (James Morrison and John Clarke). Chapter 24 - Altitude physiology: the impact of hypoxia on human performance (Claudio Marconi and Paolo Cerretelli). Chapter 25 - Human adaptation to altitude and hypoxia: ethnic differences, chronic adaptation and altitude training (Carsten Lundby, Claudio Marconi, Paolo Cerretelli and Benjamin Levine). Chapter 26 - Physiological considerations of human performance in space (Helmut Hinghofer-Szalkay and Ronald White). Chapter 27 - Topical debates. 27.1 Do humans have selective brain cooling? (Lars Nybo and Matthew White). 27.2 A critical core temperature and the significance of absolute work rate (Jose Gonzalez-Alonso, Ola Eiken and Igor Mekjavic). 27.3 Do training-induced plasma volume changes improve athletic performance? (Hiroshi Nose and Scott Montain).Section 5: Exercise Interactions. Section introduction - Does exercise have a role in the treatment of chronic disease? (Herbert Groeller).Chapter 28 - Physiological penalties of the sedentary lifestyle (Manu Chakravarthy). Chapter 29 - Overreaching and overtraining (Laurel MacKinnon, Shona Halson, Sue Hooper and Asker Jeudendrup). Chapter 30 - Exercise and disease states (Arthur Jenkins and Guy Plasqui). Chapter 31 - Topical debates. 31.1 It is not economically viable to address the penalties of sedentary behaviour through primary prevention strategies (Roy Shephard).Section 6: Optimising performance through supplementation. Section introduction - Ethical considerations of human performance optimisation (Andy Miah).Chapter 32 - Optimising and enhancing human performance through nutrition (Louise Burke, Bente Kiens and Kevin Tipton). Chapter 33 - Fluid, electrolyte and carbohydrate requirements for exercise (Scott Montain and Samuel Cheuvront). Chapter 34 - Topical debates. 34.1 Sports supplements debate: a risky practice that produces expensive urine, or legitimate performance boosts can be found in a packet or bottle? (Louise Burke). 34.2 Current drinking guidelines are not evidence-based (Timothy Noakes).Index.