title: Hormonal responses after resistance exercise performed with maximum and submaximum movement velocities.
abstract: This study examined the effects of maximum and submaximum movement velocities after a muscular hypertrophy type resistance exercise protocol on testosterone, human growth hormone (hGH) and cortisol concentrations and on neuromuscular performance assessed with a vertical jump. Eleven males performed a control and 3 resistance exercise protocols (4 sets of squat and 4 sets of leg-press exercises, 8 repetitions/set, 10-repetition maximum load). The first exercise protocol was performed at maximum velocity (Vmax); the second at 70% of Vmax with equal training volume (70%VmaxEV) to Vmax; and the third at 70% of Vmax (70%Vmax) with a 10.6% higher training volume to Vmax. Testosterone and hGH increased after all exercise protocols (p < 0.05) compared with baseline and were higher versus control values (p < 0.05). Cortisol concentrations gradually decreased in 70%Vmax, 70%VmaxEV and control protocols following a typical circadian rhythm (p < 0.05), but remained relatively constant in Vmax protocol. Comparisons among protocols showed that hGH was higher in 70%Vmax versus Vmax (p < 0.05), while cortisol was higher in Vmax versus 70%VmaxEV and control (p < 0.05). The greatest reduction in vertical jump and increase in heart rate were observed after the Vmax protocol (p < 0.05). In conclusion, a hypertrophy type resistance exercise protocol performed at maximum movement velocity increases testosterone and hGH and generates a greater biological stress, as evident by a higher cortisol concentrations and heart rate responses, and a greater reduction in neuromuscular performance. A protocol, however, performed at submaximum movement velocity combined with greater training volume stimulates to a greater extent the hGH response with no effect on cortisol.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini 69100, Greece.
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Smilios
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsoukos
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zafeiridis
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spassis
authors.forename: Savvas P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tokmakidis
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D055070:Resistance Training; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone