-
2700 BCE
Oldest Form of Exercise
Yoga is the oldest form of exercise. Dating back to 2700 B.C., has proved itself catering to both material and spiritual upliftment of humanity. Basavaraddi, I. V. (2015, April 23). Yoga: its origin, history and development. Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?25096%2FYoga%2BIts%2BOrigin%2BHistory%2Band%2BDevelopment -
370 BCE
Ancient Greece
Hippocrates, who died in 370 B.C., might reasonably be considered one of the earliest references to what of people who spoke about what we call exercise science today.
Concordia University of Chicago. (2015, December 9). The Roots of Exercise Science: A History. Exercise Science CUC. Retrieved October 8, 2022, from https://exsci.cuchicago.edu/nutrition/roots-exercise-science/ -
129
Ancient Rome
The global influence of Galen from Rome combined with his recommendation on the use of exercise for patients in the management of disease prevailed until the 16th century.
Tipton, C. M. (2014, June). The history of "Exercise is medicine" in ancient civilizations. Advances in physiology education. Retrieved October 8, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4056176/ -
1025
One of the Oldest Medical Texts
Around the year 1025, a Persian physician by the name of Avicenna wrote Canon of Medicine, a medical text supporting the ideas of Galen and talking about the benefits of exercise and consequences of exercising too much. Mahdizadeh, S., Khaleghi Ghadiri, M., & Gorji, A. (2015). Avicenna's Canon of Medicine: A review of analgesics and anti-inflammatory substances. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4469963/ -
1553
16th Century
One of the first books on exercise was written some time around 1553 by Spanish physician, Cristóbal Mendez. F;, Q.-P. (1999). [Cristóbal Méndez and the first book of Kinetotherapy (1553)]. Gaceta medica de Mexico. Retrieved October 8, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10605268/ -
First Collegiate Competition Ever
The first American intercollegiate sporting event was a two-mile (3.2 km) boat race between Harvard and Yale, which took place on August 3, 1852. Men's Heavyweight Rowing. (2022). Harvard-Yale Regatta - 150 years of tradition. Harvard University. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://gocrimson.com/sports/2020/5/9/harvard-yale-regatta-150-years-of-tradition.aspx?id=3628 -
The Beginning of Exercise Science
The roots of exercise science in academe can be traced to 1861 when Edward Hitchcock, Jr., M.D. initiated a program of gymnastics and physical training at Amherst College. Lewis, J. (2016, March 15). Exercise science: A unique discipline comes of age. UGA Alumni. Retrieved October 8, 2022, from https://alumni.uga.edu/2016/03/15/exercise-science-a-unique-discipline-comes-of-age/#:~:text=Like%20the%20fields%20of%20medicine,physical%20training%20at%20Amherst%20College -
A New Century of Knowledge
Just before the turn of the 20th century, the connection linking exercise and psychology was established in discussions given by philosopher and psychologist William James. Ellis, J. (2014, November 18). The surprising history of Exercise Physiology. Personal Trainer Certification, Nutrition Courses, Fitness Education. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.nestacertified.com/the-surprising-history-of-exercise-physiology/ -
Harvard Studies
An anatomy, physiology, and physical training program was established at Harvard University. Scott, B. (2016, December 5). About exercise science. Longwood Blogs. Retrieved October 8, 2022, from https://blogs.longwood.edu/scottbb/about-exercise-science/ -
Early 20th Century
In 1917 the Newark Normal School of Physical Education and Hygiene was founded by Matthias Machery and Randall D. Warden, Directors of Physical Education for the city of Newark. Montclair State University. (2022). History - exercise science and physical education. – Exercise Science And Physical Education - Montclair State University. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.montclair.edu/exercise-science-physical-education/about-the-department/history/ -
Vo2 Max
VO2max was defined by Hill and Lupton in 1923 as the oxygen uptake attained during maximal exercise intensity. Hawkins, M. N. (2007, March). Maximal oxygen uptake as a parametric measure of cardiorespiratory capacity. Medicine and science in sports and exercise. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000241641.75101.64 -
Establishing the Department of PE
In 1923 the Department of Physical Education and Athletics was established under the authorization of the Board of Trustees at NC State. Athletics was included in the Department of Physical Education. -
Mid 20th century
By the 1950s and through the 1960s, a new breed of physical education faculty, led by scientists like Franklin Henry at UC Berkeley, advocated for an increased focus on rigorous research with the publication of a paper entitled “Physical education: an academic discipline.” Lewis, J. (2016, March 15). Exercise science: A unique discipline comes of age. UGA Alumni. Retrieved October 8, 2022 -
Exercise Science in Canada
The development of sport medicine is outlined from the late 1950s to the incorporation of the Sport Medicine Council of Canada (SMCC; later known as the Sport Medicine and Science Council of Canada, SMSCC). Safai, P. (2008, September). A critical analysis of the development of Sport Medicine in Canada, 1955–80. ResearchGate. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249733599_A_Critical_Analysis_of_the_Development_of_Sport_Medicine_in_Canada_1955-80 -
Canadian Exercise Science on a Global Scale
In 1978, two turning points in the growth of sport medicine in Canadian health and sport circles prior to the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games: a) the negative experiences of the Canadian contingent at the 1968 Games in contrast to; b) the provision and delivery of sport medicine at and following the 1976 Montréal Olympic Games Safai, P. (2008, September). A critical analysis of the development of Sport Medicine in Canada, 1955–80. -
Describing Exercise Science
No single definition and nomenclature are universally accepted among teachers, scientists and clinicians across the broad areas of sport, physical education, exercise and physical activity (Rikli, 2006).
Sparling, P. B. (2016, February). Reflections on exercise science. ProQuest. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://www.proquest.com/docview/1795622925/fulltext/A6182B512AD14F88PQ/1?accountid=12280 -
21st Century
In 2007, the American College of Sports Medicine launched a global initiative to mobilize physicians, healthcare professionals and providers, and educators to promote exercise or activities to prevent or treat diseases that impact health and the quality of life in humans. Tipton, C. M. (2014, June). The history of "Exercise is medicine" in ancient civilizations. Advances in physiology education. Retrieved October 8, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4056176/ -
Rating Exercise Science
Kiplinger recently rated exercise science as among the "worst careers," along with music, animal science and horticulture (Cunningham, 2014). Sparling, P. B. (2016, February). Reflections on exercise science. ProQuest. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://www.proquest.com/docview/1795622925/fulltext/A6182B512AD14F88PQ/1?accountid=12280 -
Finding a Description
World Health Organization, 2016; Zhao et al., 2015). According to Morton et al. (2008, p. 142), sport and exercise science “is primarily concerned with the scientific study of sporting performance or that of how regular exercise can promote health and well-being.” Leal, A. L. G. F. et al. (2018). Knowledge about sport and exercise science. ProQuest. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://www.proquest.com/docview/2018603838/abstract/F46B9BE6A7FB4F9EPQ/1?accountid=12280 -
Career Expectations in Exercise Science
Median Salary (2020)-$50,280 (for all exercise physiologists), Job Outlook (2019-2029)- 11% (for all exercise physiologists), Education Requirements- Bachelor's degree (athletic trainers and exercise physiologists), Professional Certification- Clinical, health fitness, and specialty certifications available through the American College of Sports Medicine. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2020). What is exercise science? https://learn.org/articles/What_is_Exercise_Science.html
