HANS SELYE

GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME

SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT TRAINING CONCEPT

G.A.S.

CHALLENGE

&

RECOVERY

BALANCED

G.A.S.

ChallengeStimulus

Demands

Upsets Homeostasis

Uses Resources

G.A.S.

Recovery

Stimulus Removed

Replace Resources

System Adapts

HANS SELYE

Early 1930’s

Med student in Austria

Non-specific symptoms

Looked ill

Felt ill

Coated tongues

Sore throats

Achy joints

Gastrointestinal disturbances

Loss of appetite

Loss of weight

Excess nitrogen excretion

Low-grade fever

Enlarged spleen

Occasional rashes

HANS SELYE

Studied “just being sick”

What it means to an organism? Prevent symptoms? Improve defenses?

Treatment possible?

HANS SELYE

Life’s Work - 1935

Investigate…

non-specific response…

to any prolonged challenge…

to homeostasis

“STRESS”

HANS SELYETRIADChanges associated w/stressAdrenals

Medulla - lipids, vacuoles, necrosis

Cortex - hypertrophy, cortisol

LymphaticsThymus - degeneration

Spleen - atrophy

WBC - decrease

DigestiveMucosa -ulceration

SINCE SELYEObservations

Pituitary

Pancreas

Liver

Kidney

Gonadotropic Hormones

Inflammation Pouches

Cortisol Increase protein catabolismIncrease blood pressureDecrease AA uptakeDecrease testosteroneDecrease antibody effectiveness

Immunosuppressive

Repeated Interval Training=> persistent increase in cortisol

Decrease muscle repair Decrease immune responseDecrease endocrine responseIncrease mood disruption

GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME

ALARM

ADAPTATION

EXHAUSTION

ALARM

Challenge Perceived

Messages via Nerves/Hormones

Activation of Resources

Challenge Removed

Recovery Commences

“In the Alarm Stage the body

experiences a drain on energy and

structural and raw material reserves.

It also experiences significant cellular

destruction. No organism can maintain

this stage continuously. It either has to

Resist stressors or die. In most cases it

Resists and Adapts.”

ALARM

~ 60% VO2max =>

ALARM =>

Triggers “Fight or Flight” => Nervous/Endocrine systems =>

Epinephrine/Cortisol flow => Activation of Resources

Meeting Challenge =

Using Resources

ALARM

Challenge ~ CatabolicRespiration rate increasesHeart rate increasesContractile strength of heart increasesBlood pressure increasesBlood flow diverted to musclesProtein broken down to amino acidsGlucose made in liver from amino acidsAdditional adrenalin producedGlucose, FFA, amino acid metabolismTemperature risesStrength of muscle contraction increasesSpeed of muscle contraction increasesMental activity increasesPupils dilateSphincters close

Resource Level

C R

24 - 72 Hours

ALARM

Recovery ~ Anabolic

Restores Resources

Insufficient Recovery =>

Subtle Depletion of Resources

ADAPTATION

Repeated Intelligent Alarm

Resource Levels RiseNet Anabolic

Adaptation

Training Effect

“Energy and structural resources are

replenished at a level that cause a reduction

of the response to similar challenges in the

future.

“Adaptation takes place so that the same

challenge does not seem as challenging.”

ADAPTATION

Influenced by:Current Fitness

Environment

Demographics

Level of Challenge (s)

Recovery

Resource Level

C = R

Months

ADAPTATION

Structural O2 Transport MetabolicBones Heart Volume Aerobic Enzymes

Ligaments Vascularization Anaerobic Enzymes

Tendons Contractile Strength Muscle ATP & PCr

Muscle Protein Vagus Contrtol Muscle RNA/DNA

Cartilage Compression Blood Volume Muscle Mitochondria

Less Neuron Inhibition Capillary Density Glycogen Storage

ADAPTATION

Adaptation Cyclical

Adaptation Limited

Challenges must be removed…or…

EXHAUSTION

If Challenge

Prolonged

Increased

or

Additional challenges

Catabolic part of ALARM

reappears…but…STAYS

“Even a fully inured organism

cannot indefinitely maintain

adaptation under continuous

exposure to severe stress.”

EXHAUSTION

“The individual’s ability to

adapt is lost.

Unless the challenge is reduced

Or removed, the energy and

resource levels will drop

below the original level

and continue through the

non-specific symptoms,

culminating in the appearance

of specific disease, injury or

even death.”

Resource Level

C > R (7 to 10 days)

Anytime

EXHAUSTIONPersonality

Challenges (“psyching up”) Seem HarderIrritatedDisinterestedConcentration

Heart Rate Increased AM HR

Resting HR Exercise HR Recovery HR

BodyRestless Sleep Poor AppetiteAbnormal Weight LossIncreased Muscle SorenessIncreased Joint PainPoor Facial Skin Color/TextureFever Blisters/Canker Sores

PhysicalInability to Meet Practice Goals

Recover from Practices

GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME

Resource Level

ALARM ADAPTATION EXHAUSTION

C/R C=R C>R

24-72 hrs Months Anytime

HANS SELYE

Challenge

Necessary for improvement

Response to Challenge

Demands energy/resources

Stressors Become Excessive?

Body no longer adapts

Slides into exhaustion

Abnormal Recovery Indicators

Non-specific symptoms of disease

Specific disease or injury