Physical Stress Theory

Question 1

What is the ‘Physical stress theory’?

Answer 1

PST refers to changes in the relative level of physical stress cause a predictable adaptive response in all biological tissue.

Question 2

What are the 4 different phases of the PST?

Answer 2

1. Stress tolerance
2. Maintenence
3. Injury
4. Death

Question 3

Describe a ‘reduced stress tolerance’ as a tissue response/phase.

Answer 3

• This is the application of load that is below the maintenance range.
• Causing negative tissue changes due to deconditioning + maladaptation.
• Reduced tissue integrity + tolerance of stress.

Question 4

How does a ‘reduced stress tolerance’ look in a real-life patient?

Answer 4

• Deconditioned.
• Detrained.
• Increasing their chance of injury.

Question 5

Describe ‘maintenance’ as a response/phase.

Answer 5

• Application of a load that is within the maintenance range.
• No net adaption occurs.
• As stimulus lacks intensity.
• No actual change in the tolerance of the body to physical stress.

Question 6

What does ‘maintenance’ look like in a real-life patient?

Answer 6

• Plateau in capacity.
• Neither an increase or decrease in performance potential + injury risk.

Question 7

Describe an ‘increased stress tolerance’ as a tissue response/phase.

Answer 7

• Application of load that is beyond the maintenance range.
• Also known as progressive overload.
• Adaptations that improve the tissue’s tolerance to the particular Physical Stress.
• Improves tissue integrity + reduces risk of future injury.

Question 8

How does an ‘increased stress tolerance’ look in a real-life patient?

Answer 8

• Conditioned.
• Improved strength.
• Decrease in their chance of injury.

Question 9

Describe ‘injury’ as a tissue response/phase.

Answer 9

• Application of load that exceeds the failure threshold of the
  tissue.
• Adaptation will not occur.
• As injury results in structural damage that needs to be
  recovered from.

Question 10

How does an ‘injury’ look in a real-life patient?

Answer 10

• Damaged tissue.
• The patient is injured.

Question 11

Describe ‘death’ as a tissue response/phase.

Answer 11

• Prolonged application load that either:
  (1) Exceeds the maximum stress threshold + the regenerative capacity of the tissue.
  (2) Is significantly below the maintenance range for a prolonged time period + there
  is no stimulus for tissue health to be maintained.

Question 12

What does ‘death’ look like in a patient?

Answer 12

• No ability for tissues to heal + adapt.
• Requires input from other health professionals.