Evaluate the importance of calcium and iron in supporting efficient movement and how deficiencies in these micronutrients could impact athletic performance. (8 marks)
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Sample Answer
Evaluation Statement:
- Calcium and iron prove highly important for efficient movement.
- This evaluation examines their movement support roles and deficiency impacts.
Movement Support Functions:
- Calcium enables muscle contraction by allowing muscle proteins to interact.
- Every movement from precise skills to powerful jumps requires calcium.
- Iron forms part of haemoglobin, carrying oxygen to working muscles.
- It also helps store oxygen in muscle tissue for immediate use.
- Athletes with optimal levels show 20-30% better endurance capacity.
- Both minerals strongly meet criteria for essential movement support.
Deficiency Impacts:
- Calcium deficiency increases stress fracture risk by 40% in athletes.
- Low calcium causes muscle cramps and reduced contraction strength.
- Iron deficiency progresses from low stores to serious anaemia.
- Early stages reduce endurance before obvious symptoms appear.
- Advanced deficiency cuts oxygen delivery, causing severe fatigue.
- These deficiencies substantially fail to support athletic performance needs.
Final Evaluation:
- Both minerals demonstrate critical importance for movement efficiency.
- Their roles in muscle function and oxygen transport prove irreplaceable.
- Female athletes face higher deficiency risks due to menstruation and dietary restrictions.
- The evaluation confirms that maintaining adequate calcium and iron levels is essential, as deficiencies create compounding problems affecting multiple performance aspects.
- Athletes must prioritise these minerals through diet or supplementation.
Show Worked Solution
Sample Answer
Evaluation Statement:
- Calcium and iron prove highly important for efficient movement.
- This evaluation examines their movement support roles and deficiency impacts.
Movement Support Functions:
- Calcium enables muscle contraction by allowing muscle proteins to interact.
- Every movement from precise skills to powerful jumps requires calcium.
- Iron forms part of haemoglobin, carrying oxygen to working muscles.
- It also helps store oxygen in muscle tissue for immediate use.
- Athletes with optimal levels show 20-30% better endurance capacity.
- Both minerals strongly meet criteria for essential movement support.
Deficiency Impacts:
- Calcium deficiency increases stress fracture risk by 40% in athletes.
- Low calcium causes muscle cramps and reduced contraction strength.
- Iron deficiency progresses from low stores to serious anaemia.
- Early stages reduce endurance before obvious symptoms appear.
- Advanced deficiency cuts oxygen delivery, causing severe fatigue.
- These deficiencies substantially fail to support athletic performance needs.
Final Evaluation:
- Both minerals demonstrate critical importance for movement efficiency.
- Their roles in muscle function and oxygen transport prove irreplaceable.
- Female athletes face higher deficiency risks due to menstruation and dietary restrictions.
- The evaluation confirms that maintaining adequate calcium and iron levels is essential, as deficiencies create compounding problems affecting multiple performance aspects.
- Athletes must prioritise these minerals through diet or supplementation.