Hormonal responses after a strength endurance resistance exercise protocol in young and elderly males.
This study examined testosterone, cortisol and growth hormone responses in elderly and young men after a strength endurance protocol. Eight elderly (age: 69 +/- 5 yrs) and nine young (age: 23 +/- 1 yrs) males with recreational experience in resistance training performed a strength endurance protocol, which included six exercises. At each exercise, the subjects performed 3 sets of 15 reps at 60 % of 1-RM with a 90 s rest interval between sets. The subjects also participated in a control session. Hormonal and blood lactate concentrations were measured before exercise, immediately after exercise and 15 min after the end of exercise. Blood lactate increased (p<0.05) with resistance exercise in both age groups with the highest increases observed in the young males. Testosterone and cortisol concentrations were higher (p<0.05) immediately and 15 min after exercise as compared to the respective control session values in both young and elderly subjects, whereas no differences were observed between groups (p>0.05). Growth hormone concentration increased (p<0.05) after resistance exercise compared to the control session in both age groups. This increase was higher (p<0.05) in the young as compared to the elderly group. The above results show that a moderate intensity - high repetition resistance exercise protocol for the improvement of strength endurance, seems to be a sufficient stimulus that increases testosterone, growth hormone and cortisol concentrations in elderly males. These hormonal responses may create an optimal metabolic environment, which improves muscular function after a strength endurance program although the elderly subjects present an attenuated growth hormone response compared to younger ones.
Smilios
I
I
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece.
Pilianidis
T
T
Karamouzis
M
M
Parlavantzas
A
A
Tokmakidis
S P
SP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005080:Exercise Test; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology*
D019344:Lactic Acid; D013739:Testosterone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone