Blue plaque review series: A.V. Hill, athletic records and the birth of exercise physiology.

ABSTRACT: One hundred years ago, A.V. Hill authored three manuscripts analysing athletic world records from a physiological perspective. That analysis, grounded in Hill's understanding of contemporary muscle bioenergetics, provides a fascinating sketch of the thoughts and speculations of one of the fathers of exercise physiology. In this review, we reflect on Hill's prose with the benefit of 100 years of hindsight, and illustrate how Hill was able to draw startlingly accurate conclusions from what limited data were available on the physiology of intense exercise. Hill discusses the energetics of running, swimming, rowing and cycling in both males and females, as well as addressing exercise performance in horses and the mechanics of jumping. He also considers sports nutrition, pacing strategy and ult

SUBMITTER: Burnley M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11908475 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature