The order effect of combined endurance and strength loadings on force and hormone responses: effects of prolonged training

ABSTRACT. Purpose : To examine a cute responses and recovery of force and serum hormones to combined endurance and strength loadings utilizing different orders of exercises before and after training . M ethods: Physically active men w ere matched to an order sequence of endurance+strength (E+S, n=12) or stre ngth+endurance (S+E, n=17). The subjects performed one experimental loading consisting of steady - state cycling and a leg press protocol before and after 24 weeks of order - specific combined training. Results: No between - group difference in acute reductions of force was observed at week 0 ( E+S - 23%, p<0.001; S+E - 22%, p< 0.01 ) and 24 (E+S - 25%, p<0.001; S+E - 27%, p<0.001) and recovery in force was completed after 24h in both groups . Concentrations of growth hormone (22 - kDa) increased post - acute loading at week 0 ( E+S, +57 fold, p<0.05; S+E, +300 fold, p<0.001 ; between - groups p<0.001 ) and 24 (E+S, +80 fold, p<0.01; S+E, +340 fold, p<0.05 ; between - groups p<0.05 ). N o significant acute responses in concentrations of testosterone were observed at week 0 or 24 . However, a t week 0 testosterone was reduced during recovery following the E+S loading only (24h - 23%, p<0.01; 48h - 21%, p<0.001 ; between - group s at 24h and 48h , p<0.05 ) , but was no longer observed after training. 1RM strength improved similarly in E+S (13%, p< 0.001) and S+E (17%, p<0.001). Conclusion s : This study showed an order effect (E+S vs. S+E) in concentrations of testosterone during 2 days of recovery at week 0 , which was diminished after training at week 24 . T his initial difference in testosterone concentrations during recovery did not seem to be associated with strength development .