title: Active vs. passive recovery during high-intensity training influences hormonal response.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of active (A) vs. passive (P) recovery during high-intensity interval training on the acute hormonal and metabolic response. Twelve triathletes/cyclists performed four 4 min intervals on a cycle ergometer, either with A- or P-recovery between each bout. Testosterone, hGH, cortisol, VEGF, HGF and MIF were determined pre, 0', 30', 60' and 180' after both interventions. Metabolic perturbations were characterized by lactate, blood gas and spirometric analysis. A-recovery caused significant increases in circulating levels of cortisol, testosterone, T/C ratio, hGH, VEGF and HGF. Transient higher levels were found for cortisol, testosterone, hGH, VEGF, HGF and MIF after A-recovery compared to P-recovery, despite no differences in metabolic perturbations. A-recovery was more demanding from an athlete's point of view. Based on the data of testosterone, hGH and the T/C-ratio, as well as on the data of VEGF and HGF it appears that this kind of exercise protocol with A-recovery phases between the intervals may promote anabolic processes and may lead to pro-angiogenic conditions more than with P-recovery. These data support the findings that also the long term effects of both recovery modes seem to differ, and that both can induce specific adaptations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wahl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Achtzehn
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Sport Medicine, German Sport University Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mester
mesh_terms: D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D019344:Lactic Acid; D013739:Testosterone; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C515598:MIF protein, human; D006854:Hydrocortisone