We present a simplified point'' model to describe the hydrodynamic response of coronal loop plasma to the sudden release of energy which occurs at the time of a flare. Our simplification allows the full set of partial differential equations for energy, momentum, and mass conservation to be replaced by a corresponding set of ordinary differential equations for the plasma properties averaged over the loop volume. The temporal profiles of plasma temperature, density, and velocity are calculated over a time interval long enough to ensure that pre-flare conditions are re-established. The model is used for the interpretation of stellar flare data. In particular, we derive a set of representative loop geometries and flare energy inputs which allows us to reproduce the high emission measures typically inferred from observations of stellar flares. 4 refs., 1 fig
