How much 'extra strength' does adrenalin produce?

Question

Often hear stories of people who have, under stressful conditions or a crisis, been equipped with unprecedented physical strength.

I understand that this is caused by adrenalin? Is there some sort of formula to determine how much extra strength adrenalin can produce, or would that be relative to the stress the person was under at the time, and their mental state?

Hope I articualted this properly....thanks

Answer 1

The adrenal glands are attached to the kidneys and have the power to activate people into extraordinary feats of strength.
They activate the heart and send chemicals to the body to help it overcome sudden trauma.
I have personally seen a woman feel no pain for 20mins with a completely broken wrist, and when working as a repo agent, I was once caught in an enclosed yard when 2 large angry dogs discovered me. I managed to leap a 3 meter fence in a single bound.
In the courthouse here they built a bulletproof screen for dealing with the mentally insane. Within the first 2 weeks someone had walked through it.
I doubt the full force of an adrenalin rush can be measured, because it would be different by way of circumstance ie; fear, pain, rage, drug abuse, mental illness, and other trauma

Answer 2

I am unaware of if their is a scientific formula to determine the amount of strength that can be produced by adrenaline but I think the following factors play a major role;

1. Natural Ability: Basic strength level before the 'surge of adrenaline, hereafter referred to as SOA.

2. The situation at hand: How stressful the situation and how important the outcome is to the individual.

... I thought I had more but I think that is pretty much it.

Kudos on a good question!

Answer 3

Adrenaline And Strength

Answer 4

I don't think it's 'extra' strength. I believe the adrenaline stops you from feeling the pain and your anger/fear/distress helps you ignore the fact that you could injure yourself. An uncle of mine got his legs blown of by a grenade in Vietnam and he said he picked them up and crawled to the chopper.

Answer 5

Been there. I had to go to Orajel rehab back in the 90's. It wasn't a pleasant experience. I liked the electric-shock and all the crap they gave me to stop the cravings and the shakes, but I couldn't stand that little fellow in the blue suit I had to talk to over and fu*kin over again about my mother, my sexual yearnings and what color underwear I preferred. I think he was interested in my panties just because he wanted me. I'm clean now. Too bad about the coke, the booze and the oxy-codone. But that's a story for another time. Toodles!

Answer 6

it depends on the persons natural abilities N, how dangerous D and amount of adrenaline A, N x D x A =hulk
just kidding, i dont know, sounded good though didn't it?

Answer 7

Well it has happened around me a few times to other people

for example one of my mates was working under a car only up a jack, the jack colapsed and the car fell on him and while he is quite skinny he was having trouble breathing etc because he was trapped, another friend was ther and was scared sh1tless, he tried and unbelievably actually lifted the car around 3 inches off the groundwhile our other friend slid out from the car. he tried to lift it again later afterward and there was no way he could lift it even a millimetre off the ground.

it think it is a reminance of the who fight or flight sydrome from when we were cavemen/ and women.

it is unbelievable what the human body can do when it is under stress.