INTRODUCTION:
Many works have studied the hormonal behavior in resistance exercise, however, few relate the cortisol, GH and insulin hormones.
OBJECTIVE:
To study the adjustments of plasma concentrations of the cortisol, GH and insulin hormones in resisted exercises of the same relative intensity with different muscle musses.
METHODS:
Ten volunteers, aged 20.3 ± 4.2 years, weight 74.1 ± 10.2 Kg, 177.2 ± 4.6 cm of stature and 23.8 ± 3.2 Kg/m2 of BMI, underwent a session of leg press (LP) and bench press (BP) with four sets of 10 repetitions at 70% 1 RM with three minutes apart. We collected blood samples to measure plasma concentrations of cortisol, GH and insulin at rest (Pre) and 0' (Rec. 0'), 30' (Rec. 30') and 90' (Rec. 90') of recovery.
RESULTS:
Plasma concentrations of cortisol decreased significantly at the end of the recovery in LP (2.20 ± 0.37 ng/dl to 1.33 ± 0.38 ng/dl) compared to pre. The GH and insulin concentrations significantly increased during recovery. GH was significantly higher in LP Rec. 0' (2.75 ± 3.29 ng/ml to 9.60 ± 5.32 ng/dl) than in pre. Insulin was significantly elevated in Rec. 30' in LP (14.70 ± 7.92 ulU/ml to 21.66 ± 8.61 ulU/ml) and BP (6.17 ± 2.99 ulU/ml to 19.70 ± 13.8 ulU/ml) for pre. The plasma insulin concentrations pre PL were significantly higher in the BP (14.70 ulU/ml and 6.17 ± 2.99 ulU/ml).
CONCLUSION:
Resisted exercise promoted different adjustments in hormone concentrations of cortisol, GH and insulin during the recovery period.
physical exercise; hydrocortisone; growth hormone; insulin