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The repeated bout effect of typical lower body strength training sessions on sub-maximal running performance and hormonal response

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This study examined the effects of two typical strength training sessions performed 1 week apart (i.e. repeated bout effect) on sub-maximal running performance and hormonal.

Methods

Fourteen resistance-untrained men (age 24.0 ± 3.9 years; height 1.83 ± 0.11 m; body mass 77.4 ± 14.0 kg; VOpeak 48.1 ± 6.1 M kg−1 min−1) undertook two bouts of high-intensity strength training sessions (i.e. six-repetition maximum). Creatine kinase (CK), delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), counter-movement jump (CMJ) as well as concentrations of serum testosterone, cortisol and testosterone/cortisol ratio (T/C) were examined prior to and immediately post, 24 (T24) and 48 (T48) h post each strength training bout. Sub-maximal running performance was also conducted at T24 and T48 of each bout.

Results

When measures were compared between bouts at T48, the degree of elevation in CK (−58.4 ± 55.6 %) and DOMS (−31.43 ± 42.9 %) and acute reduction in CMJ measures (4.1 ± 5.4 %) were attenuated (p < 0.05) following the second bout. Cortisol was increased until T24 (p < 0.05) although there were no differences between bouts and no differences were found for testosterone and T/C ratio (p > 0.05). Sub-maximal running performance was impaired until T24, although changes were not attenuated following the second bout.

Conclusions

The initial bout appeared to provide protection against a number of muscle damage indicators suggesting a greater need for recovery following the initial session of typical lower body resistance exercises in resistance-untrained men although sub-maximal running should be avoided following the first two sessions.

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Abbreviations

T24:

24 h post-resistance training

T48:

48 h post-resistance training

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

B f :

Breath frequency

VCO2 :

Carbon dioxide production

CV:

Coefficient of variation

CMJ:

Counter-movement jump

CK:

Creatine kinase

DOMS:

Delayed-onset muscle soreness

ES:

Effect size

EDTA:

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

EIMD:

Exercise-induced muscle damage

HR:

Heart rate

T1:

Immediately following resistance training

VO2 :

Oxygen consumption

VO2peak :

Peak oxygen consumption

T0:

Prior to resistance training

ROM:

Range-of-motion

RPE:

Rating of perceived exertion

RBE:

Repeated bout effect

RM:

Repetition maximum

RE:

Running economy

T/C ratio:

Testosterone to cortisol ratio

V E :

Ventilation

V E/VCO2 :

Ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide

V E/VO2 :

Ventilatory equivalents for oxygen

VT2 :

Ventilatory threshold

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the participants who dedicated their time to take part in the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors do not have any conflict of interest to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sport and Exercise Science, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia

    Kenji Doma, Wade H. Sinclair & Anthony S. Leicht

  2. Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35 (VIV), Jyväskylä, Finland

    Moritz Schumann & Keijo Häkkinen

  3. Sport and Exercise Science, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia

    Glen B. Deakin

Authors
  1. Kenji Doma
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  2. Moritz Schumann
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  3. Wade H. Sinclair
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  4. Anthony S. Leicht
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  5. Glen B. Deakin
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  6. Keijo Häkkinen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenji Doma.

Additional information

Communicated by Olivier Seynnes.

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Doma, K., Schumann, M., Sinclair, W.H. et al. The repeated bout effect of typical lower body strength training sessions on sub-maximal running performance and hormonal response. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 1789–1799 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3159-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3159-z

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