title: Muscle power increases after resistance training in growth-hormone-deficient adults.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Physical Education Graduate Program, Universidade Gama Filho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Werlang Coelho
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rebello Velloso
authors.forename: Rosane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Resende de Lima Oliveira Brasil
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaisman
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gil Soares de Araújo
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone