Introduction to Exercise Physiology & Sports Performance

By Prof. Col (Dr) Anup Krishnan (Retd), Prof. Wg Cdr (Dr) Chandrasekara Guru S, Prof. Pralay Majumdar | School of Sports, Exercise & Nutrition Sciences, Directorate of Medical Services, IIT Madras

Learners enrolled: 310

ABOUT THE COURSE:

A unique, comprehensive program which explores the fascinating field of Exercise Physiology, delving into the intricate mechanisms behind human performance and athletic excellence. The student will gain a deep understanding of how the body adapts to exercise, optimizes performance, and achieves peak performance. If you are an athlete, coach, doctor, physiotherapist or fitness enthusiast, this course will equip you with valuable knowledge and strategies to enhance your training and to optimize your athletes training regimen and maximize performance. Do join us on this enlightening journey towards unlocking the science behind human performance.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: The course is designed to cater to active population with an interest in exercise physiology, providing them with valuable knowledge and insights applicable to human performance, fitness training, and overall health and well-being. The intended population includes but is not limited to Athletes, Coaches, Strength & Conditioning specialists, Sports Science professionals, Physiotherapists, Physical trainers etc.

PREREQUISITES: 12 Pass or equivalent

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Sports Authority of India, National Federations & their Affiliated State Associations, Various Clubs, Khelo India Academies, Private Academies, etc.

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	8 weeks
Category :	Humanities and Social Sciences Sports Sciences
Credit Points :	2
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	18 Aug 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	18 Aug 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	29 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	01 Nov 2025 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1:
A. Introduction to Exercise Physiology & response to exercise
B. Skeletal Muscle Physiology

Week 2:
A. Bioenergetics
B. Cardiorespiratory system and exercise

Week 3:
A. Respiratory system and exercise
B. Neurophysiology and exercise

Week 4:
A. Endocrine response to exercise
B. Exercise in Children and Adolescents

Week 5:
A. Exercise Prescription and Training principles
B. Adaptations to aerobic and anaerobic training

Week 6:
A. Environmental considerations in exercise
B. Exercise at altitude

Week 7:
A. Hydration and Fluid Balance
B. Body Composition and its applications

Week 8:
A. Performance testing and analysis
B. Exercise in disease management and prevention

Books and references

1. Essentials of Exercise Physiology by William D. McArdle, Frank I. Katch, and Victor L. Katch

2. Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance by Scott K. Powers and Edward T. Howley

3. Exercise Physiology: Human Bioenergetics and Its Applications by George A. Brooks, Thomas D. Fahey, and Kenneth M. Baldwin

Instructor bio

Prof. Col (Dr) Anup Krishnan (Retd)

School of Sports, Exercise & Nutrition Sciences

Prof. Col (Dr) Anup Krishnan (Retd) Colonel (Dr) Anup Krishnan (Retd) is an Ex Indian Army Sports Medicine Doctor who served the nation for 23 years. He has completed MBBS from Bombay University in 1997 and DSM from National Institute of Sports, Patiala (2010) and has also completed his PhD in Sports Rehabilitation (2014). He has several certifications related to Sports Medicine from India and abroad. He has headed the Sports Medicine departments at Army Hospital (Research & Referral), Delhi Cantt, Army Sports Institute, Pune and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He has been Faculty and Examiner for the MD Sports Medicine programme at AFMC, Pune. He has been the Honorary Sports Medicine Consultant to the President of India from 2010 – 2012. He is experienced in all aspects of Sports Medicine and has represented Services at several national sports events and India at several International sports events as Team Doctor and Ringside Physician. He has been instrumental in Return to Sports of several International sportsmen and is a panel member for the National Anti-Doping Agency and NRRT/TOPS scheme of SAI.
He has 22 paper publications and presentations to his credit and has been awarded the Chief of Naval Staff award for best published paper in Medicine and Allied subjects 2017 and the best published paper in Medical Journal Armed Forces India 2018.
Sports Rehabilitation, Exercise prescription, Training methodology, Doping control, Talent identification and Development, Exercise Physiology and Injury prevention are his key interests. He is currently working as Director and Professor, School of Sports and Exercise Sciences, DY Patil University, Navi Mumbai and as Consultant, Sports Medicine and Spine Rehabilitation with Qi Spine Clinic. He brings a wealth of teaching and practical clinical experience to this course

Prof. Wg Cdr (Dr) Chandrasekara Guru S

Directorate of Medical Services

Prof. Wg Cdr (Dr) Chandrasekara Guru S Wing Commander (Dr) S Chandrasekara guru is a commissioned medical officer in Indian Air Force. He is a graduate of AV Medical College, Pondicherry. After his compulsory Internship at Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, he joined the Armed Forces Medical Services in 2009.

Over last 14 years in the Armed Forces, he has managed and treated various training and sports related injuries of the Armed Combatants. He is an adventure enthusiast, and has done basic para-jumping and basic mountaineering courses. He has done MD postgraduation in Sports Medicine from the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College, Pune. He has been part of the medical team of Khelo Indian School Games held in New Delhi and Pune.

Being an avid researcher and scientific collaborator, he has been co-author in about 12 published research articles in various national and international sports medicine/ science journals and has also been a scientific reviewer of about 13 articles till date. He has presented his research works in various scientific conferences. His field of interest includes Sports Performance enhancement, Sports Injury prevention and management, Physical activity in special populations like Pilots, Doctors, Military combatants and Sports Sciences in performance enhancement.

Prof. Pralay Majumdar

IIT Madras

Prof. Pralay Majumdar serves as the Senior Advisor for Sports Science Education and Research at the Centre of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. With a rich background spanning almost three decades, he brings a wealth of experience in teaching postgraduate courses, developing training programs, and conducting extensive research in the fields of sports physiology, biochemistry, anthropometry, and nutrition.

Prof. Majumdar is a highly regarded expert in sports physiology, sports biochemistry, anthropometry, and sports nutrition. His extensive academic background includes a Ph.D. in Physiology, where he conducted groundbreaking research on the physical work capacity of Indian sports professionals. With almost three decades of experience, he has become an instrumental figure in the field, contributing significantly to sports science education and research.

Apart from his academic achievements, Prof. Majumdar has played a pivotal role in the design and implementation of physiological monitoring processes for Indian sports teams. His expertise has been crucial in assessing the progress and physiological qualities of athletes during various training phases. He has also been actively involved in the development of training programs, incorporating the latest scientific techniques and evaluation methods to optimize athlete performance.

Prof. Majumdar's dedication to the field is evident through his memberships in prestigious scientific societies and his active involvement in various sports-related committees and projects. His profound knowledge and contributions continue to shape the landscape of sports science, benefiting athletes and sports professionals in India.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: November 01, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 6 assignments out of the total 8 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Madras .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team