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Physiological Performance Limits

Meaning

Physiological Performance Limits represent the maximum sustainable capacity of an organism’s major systems—cardiovascular, muscular, neurological, and endocrine—to withstand and adapt to physical or mental stress before experiencing irreversible decline or catastrophic failure. These limits are determined by factors such as maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), the lactate threshold, and the point of HPA axis exhaustion. Understanding these limits is crucial for designing safe and effective training protocols and for preventing overtraining syndrome or systemic burnout. These limits are dynamic, capable of being expanded through targeted biological and training interventions.