Resting hormone level response to a 16-week dynamic and static exercise programme

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate hormonal responses of serum cortisol, growth hormone (GH), testesterone and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels during dynamic and static stress exercises in 20 male volunteer student athletes. The serum fasting hormonal levels of the participants were measured after six weeks of general resistance exercise. Subsequently, nine of the participants performed static exercises and 11 participants performed dynamic exercises for an additional 16 weeks and the serum hormonal levels were measured again. The cortisol level significantly decreased in participants from the static group compared to participants from the dynamic group (p<0.05). However, the other parameters measured in the participants of the study group, as well as the cortisol level in the participants of the dynamic study group, did not change significantly.

Keywords: Exercise; Cortisol; Testosterone; Growth hormone; IGF-1.

South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation, 2013, 35(2): 65-72