Effect eight weeks strength, endurance and concurrent training on blood serum cortisol / testosterone ratio and muscular fitness in soldiers wrestler

Background: Many studies showed trainings with high intensity and enough volume leads to the enhancement of muscle mass and testosterone concentration. Other studies reported no increase in catabolic state in concurrent and endurance training, and no change or reduction in testosterone amount in endurance group. The aim of this study was assessment of concurrent training effect on testosterone/cortisol ratio and muscular fitness in soldiers’ wrestler.

Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 24 Soldiers wrestler with average age of 20/625±1/135yr, height 172/710±5/180, and average weight of 68/442±50860kg, BMI 22/928±0/281 voluntarily and randomly were divided into three groups (each groups n=8). Endurance training consisted of running to 65% of maximum heart rate for 16 minutes during the first week, reaching 80% of maximum heart rate for 30 minutes during the 8 weeks. The strength training consisted of 6 movements. Concurrent training was a combination of two strength and endurance training in each step, respectively. 5cc venous blood was collected during three sets; pre-test, after 4 and 8 week at 8 o’clock in the morning and the measurement was done with ELISA. Repetition maximum test (RMT) was estimated for evaluation of muscle fitness in pre-test and posttest. Blood data analysis with statistical method, with repetition amount in three groups was performed. ANOVA and t-test was used for comparison of variable scores between groupsand a significant level was considered(p<0. 05).

Results: In all the movements, the strength group showed a significant increase, endurance group had a reduction in bench-press, pull down curl and shoulder, and in concurrent group in all movements except squat a significant increase was noticed (p < 0. 05).comparison between 3groups in terms of muscle fitness development in bench-press(P=0/000F=29/93), lateral pull downcurl F=56/06P=0/00), and shoulder press (F=51/06P=0/00)presented a significant difference. In three measurement sets in testosterone/cortisol ratio a significant difference was observed. (F=16/204 P= 0/000).

Conclusion: combination of the strength and endurance training can have an impact on reduction of catabolic state induced endurance training.