Muscle power increases after resistance training in growth-hormone-deficient adults.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the effects of a resistance training (RT) program over muscle function and body composition of adults with GH deficiency without replacement.


METHODS
11 GH-deficient patients (39 +/- 11 yr) were evaluated in four occasions (two pretraining and at 6 and 12-wk of training). We performed anthropometric measurements and physical tests. Muscle power was measured by a specific tensiometer (Fitro, Bratislava, Slovakia) in five different exercises: seated chest press, rear lat pull-down, knee extension, standing upright row, and triceps press down. Muscle endurance was assessed by maximum number of sit-ups and maximum static strength by measurement with a handgrip dynamometer. A 12-wk home-based RT program was individually prescribed and consisted of 13 exercises, performed each other day, using simple material.


RESULTS
No significant differences occurred in body weight or limb circumferences ( > 0.05), although the sum of central skinfolds decreased with RT (111 +/- 9 vs 100 +/- 9 mm; < 0.05). RT induced significant gains in four of five exercises: rear lat pull-down (141 +/- 19 vs 198 +/- 20 W), standing upright row (134 +/- 22 vs 157 +/- 24 W), triceps press down (85 +/- 14 vs 123 +/- 21 W), and seated chest press (114 +/- 20 vs 143 +/- 21 W; < 0.05). Sit-up results also showed significant improvements, while handgrip did not ( > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
GH-deficient adults without GH replacement may improve their maximum muscle power when submitted to an individualized, simple, and short home-based RT program. Considering that limb girths did not significantly change, the gains were most likely due to improvements in neuromuscular components.
Werlang Coelho
Carla
C
Physical Education Graduate Program, Universidade Gama Filho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Rebello Velloso
Claudio
C
Resende de Lima Oliveira Brasil
Rosane
R
Vaisman
Mário
M
Gil Soares de Araújo
Claudio
C
D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*
D013006:Growth Hormone