Abstract
Introduction and purpose: Resistance exercise is a potent stimulus for acute metabolic hormones such as testosterone and cortisol concentrations increasing. The aim of this study was to examine the acute testosterone and cortisol responses to both forms of volume and strength resistance training to develop and evaluate protocols for athletes and non-athletes.
Materials and Methods: For this purpose, 20 young non-athletes male were selected and randomly divided into two equal groups. In two separate sessions, cross-sectional, volume and strength exercise was administered to both groups. In the first week, group 1 performed the volume training (70% of One Repetition maximal, 4 set, 1 min rest) and Group 2 strength training (90% of One Repetition maximal, 8 set, 3 min rest), in the second week, the groups changed. Exercise protocol was squat and bench press. Blood samples were obtained before and immediately after each session for testosterone and cortisol measure.
Results: Testosterone increased after each training method, but only after resistance training it was significant. Cortisol significantly increased after each training method. Testosterone/ cortisol decreased significantly after both procedures. But the concentration of testosterone, cortisol and Testosterone/ cortisol between groups was not significant (p < 0/05).
Discussion and Conclusion: The results showed that both forms of volume and strength resistance training caused acute hormonal responses, but were not significant. Meanwhile both were stressful and put body into a catabolic situation.