The General Adaptation Syndrome: A Foundation for the Concept of Periodization

Abstract

Recent reviews have attempted to refute the efficacy of applying Selye's general adaptation syndrome (GAS) as a conceptual framework for the training process. Furthermore, the criticisms involved are regularly used as the basis for arguments against the periodization of training. However, these perspectives fail to consider the entirety of Selye's work, the evolution of his model, and the broad applications he proposed. While it is reasonable to critically evaluate any paradigm, critics of the GAS have yet to dismantle the link between stress and adaptation. Disturbance to the state of an organism is the driving force for biological adaptation, which is the central thesis of the GAS model and the primary basis for its application to the athlete's training process. Despite its imprecisions, the GAS has proven to be an instructive framework for understanding the mechanistic process of providing a training stimulus to induce specific adaptations that result in functional enhancements. Pioneers of modern periodization have used the GAS as a framework for the management of stress and fatigue to direct adaptation during sports training. Updates to the periodization concept have retained its founding constructs while explicitly calling for scientifically based, evidence-driven practice suited to the individual. Thus, the purpose of this review is to provide greater clarity on how the GAS serves as an appropriate mechanistic model to conceptualize the periodization of training.

The Physical Demands of NCAA Division I Women’s College Soccer

“…Total distance covered at the Division I collegiate level differs from the international level. Although some overlap is apparent, a total distance of 9486 m (9186-9786 m) covered by college females appears lower than international and professional players from Sweden [4,14,19], Denmark [2,4,14,19], Brazil [22], Australia [12,19], USA [14,19], and other European countries [11,19,31] which ranged from 9630-10,750 m. As a result, we can speculate that the lower physical demands of women's soccer at the collegiate level are likely inadequate to prepare players for international competition.…”

“…Therefore, logic (and physiology) would suggest that it is inappropriate for collegiate players to be subjected to workloads suited for more elite players at higher levels. Such exposure to high workloads has the real possibility to result in non-functional overreaching or overtraining [31,32] and possibly increasing their risk of overuse injuries [33]. As a result, the addition of objective evidence to better understand the physical demands of women's collegiate soccer at the Division I level to support the findings of Vescovi [13] and McCormack [15] are needed.…”

Periodización del entrenamiento aplicada a los programas de entrenamiento extremo

“…No entanto, como Gorban et al 16 nos lembram, a capacidade adaptativa de qualquer sistema envolve oscilações funcionais que, no final, desencadeiam diferentes mudanças e consequências, dependendo da óptica ou critérios que usamos: a) Morte (proposta de Selye em 1938) 15 ; Adaptação (proposta de Goldstone, 1952) 17 . Essas oscilações na resposta não exigem qualquer razão externa, mas têm uma origem dinâmica intrínseca De acordo com Cunanan et al 18 esses estágios são percebidos no desenvolvimento da força e potência muscular, que envolve uma interação complexa de múltiplos mecanismos. Por exemplo, (1) reação de alarme (excitação): o treinamento de força (estímulos agudos e crônicos) transmite tensão mecânica, danos nos tecidos e respostas metabólicas.…”

Chronic kidney disease: considerations for monitoring skeletal muscle health and prescribing resistance exercise

“…The application of periodized exercise has been used in clinical and rehabilitation settings as a way to manage exercise intensity [ 99 , 100 ]. Periodization models provide a conceptual basis describing the systematic manipulations of exercise stimuli in an attempt to account for the accumulation of fatigue and stagnation in training adaptations [ 15 , 101 ]. Resistance exercise intervention design informed by a block periodization model is presented in Table 3 .…”