Acute hormonal responses to heavy resistance exercise in strength athletes versus nonathletes
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate acute hormonal and neuromuscular responses and recovery in strength athletes versus nonathletes during heavy resistance exercise performed with the forced and maximum repetitions training protocol. Eight male strength athletes (SA) with several years of continuous resistance training experience and 8 physically active but non-strength athletes (NA) volunteered as subjects. The experimental design comprised two loading sessions: maximum repetitions (MR) and forced repetitions (FR). MR included 12-RM squats for 4 sets with a 2-min recovery between sets. In FR the initial load was higher than in MR so that the subject could lift approximately 8 repetitions by himself and 4 additional repetitions with assistance. Before and after the loading protocols, blood samples were drawn to determine serum testosterone, free testosterone, cortisol and growth hormone concentrations, and blood lactate. Maximal voluntary isometric force and EMG activity of the leg extensors was measured before and after the loading as well as 24 and 48 hrs after the loading. The concentrations of the hormones measured increased significantly (p < .01-.001) after both loadings in both groups. The responses tended to be higher in FR than the MR loading and the increases of testosterone concentrations were significantly (p < .01) greater in both loadings in SA than in NA. Both loading protocols in both groups also led to neuromuscular fatigue observable with significant acute decreases in isometric strength by 32-52 % (p < .001) and in maximal iEMG (p < .05-01) associated with large increases in blood lactate. These data suggest that, at least in experienced strength athletes, the forced-repetition protocol is a viable alternative to the more traditional maximum-repetition protocol and may even be a superior approach. Key words: forced repetitions, recovery, EMG, isometric force
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The effect of seasonal variation on testosterone levels remains controversial, with no definitive evidence available.
“The effect of seasonal variation on T levels remains controversial, with no definitive evidence available at the present time.”
From Challenges in Testosterone Measurement, Data Interpretation, and Methodological Appraisal of Interventional Trials (2016) · cites this paper as [59]
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- Authors
- Ahtiainen, J. P., Pakarinen, A., Kraemer, W. J., & Hakkinen, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Jyväskylä (FI)
- Venue
- Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology
- Publisher
- Canadian Science Publishing
- Published
- 2004-10-01
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 527-543
- ISSN
- 1066-7814 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2096015109
- Cited by
- 97
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 2.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- heavy resistance exercise, strength athletes, non-athletes, acute hormonal response, testosterone, cortisol, growth hormone, blood lactate, neuromuscular fatigue, isometric strength, muscle electrical activity, leg extensors, squatting, maximum repetitions, training recovery
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Hormones, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Isometric Contraction, Lactates, Male, Physical Education and Training, Growth Hormone, Stress, Mechanical, Testosterone, Weight Lifting, Exercise, Weight-Bearing, Muscle, Skeletal
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