Performance Core Curriculum: Cardiovascular Fitness and Training Considerations

Course overview

This course provides an evidence-based review of cardiovascular fitness, including foundational anatomy, physiological responses to exercise, and key central and peripheral adaptations that influence health and performance outcomes. Participants will examine methods used to assess cardiovascular fitness, including laboratory-based metabolic testing, field assessments, and wearable technologies, to support informed clinical and training decisions. The course emphasizes practical interpretation of aerobic capacity, metabolic efficiency, lactate thresholds, and heart-rate training zones as they relate to individualized exercise prescription. Content is designed to enhance clinical reasoning and program design for varied populations and athlete types, with attention to safety, individual goals, and physiological demand.