Defining adaptation within applied physiology – is there room for improvement?

Importance of studying the process of adaptation

There is significant interdisciplinary interest in the biological mechanisms underpinning human adaptation to exercise and environmental stress. For example, improving comprehension of the influence of environmental pressures on human form and function is a primary motivation for much ongoing research within evolutionary anthropology (Longman et al., 2020). In parallel, within applied physiology, an increased understanding of the processes/mechanisms driving adaptation to the strain imposed by exercise and environmental factors could be used to improve health and performance, and to enhance the efficacy of training programs (Longman et al., 2023).

The range of perspectives arising from this widespread interest brings significant opportunities to advance current understanding of adaptive mechanisms via interdisciplinary knowledge-sharing and collaboration. However, realization of this potential requires the consistent and accurate use of key terms relating to the process of adaptation. The interdisciplinary nature of the applied physiology field has led to a highly variable use of terminology and definitions relating to stress, strain and subsequent adaptation. This has introduced a lack of clarity surrounding key terms, hindering scientific progression. The present Opinion aims to illustrate this problem and suggest a more uniform and standardized approach to defining both the processes and the outcomes of adaptation to exercise and environmental pressures...(cont.)