Physiological States

The Homeostasis Maintenance cluster was interpreted as biologically important because a healthy squad should mostly be near homeostasis. The k = 5 solution distinguished mechanical damage from metabolic stress, which binary risk classification would collapse. Mechanical Damage was characterized by elevated CK and LDH, consistent with peripheral tissue breakdown and mechanical stress. Metabolic Stress was characterized by elevated cortisol with normal CK, indicating neuroendocrine axis saturation rather than localized tissue damage. The Anabolic Power cluster represented a favorable recovery or adaptation state rather than a stress-dominant phenotype.