NETA Personal Trainer Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Achieve Certification Success!

The initial response of the body to exercise in General Adaptation Syndrome is known as the Alarm Stage. During this stage, the body perceives a stressor, such as the physical demand of exercise, leading to a fight-or-flight response. This immediate reaction involves the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which prepare the body to handle the stress of increased physical activity.

In the Alarm Stage, physiological processes are activated, including an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and energy availability, all aimed at allowing the body to adapt to the new demands placed upon it. This is essential for initiating the adaptation process that follows in the subsequent stages.

Following the Alarm Stage, the body progresses into the Resistance Stage, where it attempts to adapt to the stressor over a longer period. Eventually, if the stress continues without proper recovery, the body may enter the Exhaustion Stage. The Recovery Stage is not a part of General Adaptation Syndrome but rather an important phase following exercise when the body recuperates and restores itself. Therefore, the Alarm Stage is crucial in understanding how the body first reacts to the stress of exercise.