Download PDF
Horm Metab Res 2011; 43(10): 669-673
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1286309
Mini-Review
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Acute and Chronic Testosterone Response to Blood Flow Restricted Exercise

J. P. Loenneke
1   Department of Health and Exercise Science, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
,
J. M. Wilson
2   Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies, University of Tampa, Tampa, Florida, USA
,
T. J. Pujol
3   Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA
,
M. G. Bemben
1   Department of Health and Exercise Science, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 11 July 2011

accepted 04 August 2011

Publication Date:
19 September 2011 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends lifting a weight of at least 70% 1RM to achieve muscular hypertrophy as it is believed that anything below this intensity rarely produces substantial muscle growth. At least part of this recommendation is related to elevated systemic hormones following heavy resistance training being associated with skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Despite benefits of high intensity resistance training, many individuals are unable to withstand the high mechanical stresses placed upon the joints during heavy resistance training. Blood flow restricted exercise offers a novel mode of exercise allowing skeletal muscle hypertrophy at low intensities, however the testosterone response to this exercise has yet to be discussed. The acute and chronic testosterone response to blood flow restricted exercise appears to be minimal when examining the current literature. Despite this lack of response, notable increases in both size and strength are observed with this type of exercise, which seems to support that systemic increases of endogenous testosterone are not necessary for muscular hypertrophy to occur. However, definitive conclusions cannot be made without a more thorough analysis of responses of androgen receptor density following blood flow restricted exercise. It may also be that there are differing mechanisms underlying hypertrophy induced by high intensity resistance training and via blood flow restricted exercise.

Key words

KAATSU - vascular occlusion - anabolic hormone - hypertrophy
 

  • References

  • 1 Wagner D. Skeletal muscle growth: Hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Strength Cond J 1996; 18: 38-39
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 ACSM . American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41: 687-708
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Ahtiainen JP, Pakarinen A, Alen M, Kraemer WJ, Hakkinen K. Muscle hypertrophy, hormonal adaptations and strength development during strength training in strength-trained and untrained men. Eur J Appl Physiol 2003; 89: 555-563
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Loenneke JP, Pujol TJ. The Use of Occlusion Training to Produce Muscle Hypertrophy. Strength Cond J 2009; 31: 77-84
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Yasuda T, Abe T, Sato Y, Midorikawa T, Kearns CF, Inoue K, Ishii N. Muscle fiber cross-sectional area is increased after two weeks of twice daily KAATSU-resistance training. Int J KAATSU Training Res 2005; 1: 65-70
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Takarada Y, Nakamura Y, Aruga S, Onda T, Miyazaki S, Ishii N. Rapid increase in plasma growth hormone after low-intensity resistance exercise with vascular occlusion. J Appl Physiol 2000; 88: 61-65
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Takarada Y, Takazawa H, Ishii N. Applications of vascular occlusion diminish disuse atrophy of knee extensor muscles. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000; 32: 2035-2039
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Nakajima T, Kurano M, Sakagami F, Iida H, Fukumura K, Fukuda T, Takano H, Madarame H, Yasuda T, Nagata T, Sato Y, Yamasoba T, Morita T. Effects of low-intensity KAATSU resistance training on skeletal muscle size/strength and endurance capacity in patients with ischemic heart disease. Int J KAATSU Training Res 2010; 6: 1-7
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Karabulut M, Abe T, Sato Y, Bemben MG. The effects of low-intensity resistance training with vascular restriction on leg muscle strength in older men. Eur J Appl Physiol 2010; 108: 147-155
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Takano H, Morita T, Iida H, Asada K, Kato M, Uno K, Hirose K, Matsumoto A, Takenaka K, Hirata Y, Eto F, Nagai R, Sato Y, Nakajima T. Hemodynamic and hormonal responses to a short-term low-intensity resistance exercise with the reduction of muscle blood flow. Eur J Appl Physiol 2005; 95: 65-73
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Loenneke JP, Pujol TJ. KAATSU: Rationale for application in Astronauts. Hippokratia 2010; 14: 224
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Loenneke JP, Wilson JM, Wilson GJ, Pujol TJ, Bemben MG. Potential safety issues with blood flow restriction training. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2011; 21: 510-518
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Schoenfeld BJ. The mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy and their application to resistance training. J Strength Cond Res 2010; 24: 2857-2872
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Winters SJ. Current status of testosterone replacement therapy in men. Arch Fam Med 1999; 8: 257-263
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Chen Y, Zajac JD, MacLean HE. Androgen regulation of satellite cell function. J Endocrinol 2005; 186: 21-31
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Ferrando AA, Tipton KD, Doyle D, Phillips SM, Cortiella J, Wolfe RR. Testosterone injection stimulates net protein synthesis but not tissue amino acid transport. Am J Physiol 1998; 275: E864-E871
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Ferrando AA, Sheffield-Moore M, Paddon-Jones D, Wolfe RR, Urban RJ. Differential anabolic effects of testosterone and amino acid feeding in older men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003; 88: 358-362
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 West DW, Phillips SM. Anabolic processes in human skeletal muscle: restoring the identities of growth hormone and testosterone. Phys Sportsmed 2010; 38: 97-104
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Hakkinen K, Pakarinen A. Acute hormonal responses to heavy resistance exercise in men and women at different ages. Int J Sports Med 1995; 16: 507-513
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Kraemer WJ, Fleck SJ, Dziados JE, Harman EA, Marchitelli LJ, Gordon SE, Mello R, Frykman PN, Koziris LP, Triplett NT. Changes in hormonal concentrations after different heavy-resistance exercise protocols in women. J Appl Physiol 1993; 75: 594-604
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Linnamo V, Pakarinen A, Komi PV, Kraemer WJ, Hakkinen K. Acute hormonal responses to submaximal and maximal heavy resistance and explosive exercises in men and women. J Strength Cond Res 2005; 19: 566-571
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Kraemer WJ, Ratamess NA. Hormonal responses and adaptations to resistance exercise and training. Sports Med 2005; 35: 339-361
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Volek JS, Kraemer WJ, Bush JA, Incledon T, Boetes M. Testosterone and cortisol in relationship to dietary nutrients and resistance exercise. J Appl Physiol 1997; 82: 49-54
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Bosco C, Colli R, Bonomi R, von Duvillard SP, Viru A. Monitoring strength training: neuromuscular and hormonal profile. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000; 32: 202-208
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Raastad T, Bjoro T, Hallen J. Hormonal responses to high- and moderate-intensity strength exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 2000; 82: 121-128
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Chandler RM, Byrne HK, Patterson JG, Ivy JL. Dietary supplements affect the anabolic hormones after weight-training exercise. J Appl Physiol 1994; 76: 839-845
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, Bush JA, Putukian M, Sebastianelli WJ. Hormonal responses to consecutive days of heavy-resistance exercise with or without nutritional supplementation. J Appl Physiol 1998; 85: 1544-1555
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Baker JR, Bemben MG, Anderson MA, Bemben DA. Effects of age on testosterone responses to resistance exercise and musculoskeletal variables in men. J Strength Cond Res 2006; 20: 874-881
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Kraemer WJ, Staron RS, Hagerman FC, Hikida RS, Fry AC, Gordon SE, Nindl BC, Gothshalk LA, Volek JS, Marx JO, Newton RU, Hakkinen K. The effects of short-term resistance training on endocrine function in men and women. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1998; 78: 69-76
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Tremblay MS, Copeland JL, Van Helder W. Effect of training status and exercise mode on endogenous steroid hormones in men. J Appl Physiol 2004; 96: 531-539
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Ratamess NA, Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, Maresh CM, Vanheest JL, Sharman MJ, Rubin MR, French DN, Vescovi JD, Silvestre R, Hatfield DL, Fleck SJ, Deschenes MR. Androgen receptor content following heavy resistance exercise in men. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2005; 93: 35-42
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 West DW, Burd NA, Tang JE, Moore DR, Staples AW, Holwerda AM, Baker SK, Phillips SM. Elevations in ostensibly anabolic hormones with resistance exercise enhance neither training-induced muscle hypertrophy nor strength of the elbow flexors. J Appl Physiol 2010; 108: 60-67
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Biolo G, Maggi SP, Williams BD, Tipton KD, Wolfe RR. Increased rates of muscle protein turnover and amino acid transport after resistance exercise in humans. Am J Physiol 1995; 268: E514-E520
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Ronnestad BR, Nygaard H, Raastad T. Physiological elevation of endogenous hormones results in superior strength training adaptation. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 111: 2249-2259
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Beaven CM, Gill ND, Cook CJ. Salivary testosterone and cortisol responses in professional rugby players after four resistance exercise protocols. J Strength Cond Res 2008; 22: 426-432
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Beaven CM, Cook CJ, Gill ND. Significant strength gains observed in rugby players after specific resistance exercise protocols based on individual salivary testosterone responses. J Strength Cond Res 2008; 22: 419-425
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Crewther BT, Cook C, Cardinale M, Weatherby RP, Lowe T. Two emerging concepts for elite athletes: the short-term effects of testosterone and cortisol on the neuromuscular system and the dose-response training role of these endogenous hormones. Sports Med 2011; 41: 103-123
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Stokes K, Betts J, Beelen M, Saris W, van Lon L. Endocrine responses following ingestion of carbohydrate with or without protein during post-exercise overnight recovery. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011; 43: S954
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Hakkinen K, Pakarinen A, Alen M, Kauhanen H, Komi PV. Neuromuscular and hormonal adaptations in athletes to strength training in two years. J Appl Physiol 1988; 65: 2406-2412
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Reeves GV, Kraemer RR, Hollander DB, Clavier J, Thomas C, Francois M, Castracane VD. Comparison of hormone responses following light resistance exercise with partial vascular occlusion and moderately difficult resistance exercise without occlusion. J Appl Physiol 2006; 101: 1616-1622
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Fujita S, Abe T, Drummond MJ, Cadenas JG, Dreyer HC, Sato Y, Volpi E, Rasmussen BB. Blood flow restriction during low-intensity resistance exercise increases S6K1 phosphorylation and muscle protein synthesis. J Appl Physiol 2007; 103: 903-910
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Madarame H, Sasaki K, Ishii N. Endocrine responses to upper- and lower-limb resistance exercises with blood flow restriction. Acta Physiol Hung 2010; 97: 192-200
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 Loenneke JP, Wilson GJ, Wilson JM. A Mechanistic Approach to Blood Flow Occlusion. Int J Sports Med 2010; 31: 1-4
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 44 Lin H, Wang SW, Wang RY, Wang PS. Stimulatory effect of lactate on testosterone production by rat Leydig cells. J Cell Biochem 2001; 83: 147-154
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 Lu SS, Lau CP, Tung YF, Huang SW, Chen YH, Shih HC, Tsai SC, Lu CC, Wang SW, Chen JJ, Chien EJ, Chien CH, Wang PS. Lactate and the effects of exercise on testosterone secretion: evidence for the involvement of a cAMP-mediated mechanism. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1997; 29: 1048-1054
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 46 Anakwe OO, Moger WH. Beta 2-adrenergic stimulation of androgen production by cultured mouse testicular interstitial cells. Life Sci 1984; 35: 2041-2047
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 47 Abe T, Kearns CF, Sato Y. Muscle size and strength are increased following walk training with restricted venous blood flow from the leg muscle, Kaatsu-walk training. J Appl Physiol 2006; 100: 1460-1466
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 48 Yasuda T, Fujita S, Ogasawara R, Sato Y, Abe T. Effects of low-intensity bench press training with restricted arm muscle blood flow on chest muscle hypertrophy: a pilot study. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2010; 30: 338-343
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 49 Kraemer WJ, Volek JS, French DN, Rubin MR, Sharan MJ, Gomez AL, Ratamess NA, Newton RU, Jemiolo B, Craig BW, Hakkinen K. The effects of l-carnitine l-tartrate supplementation on hormonal responses to resistance exercise and recovery. J Strength Cond Res 2003; 17: 455-462
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 50 Vingren JL, Kraemer WJ, Hatfield DL, Volek JS, Ratamess NA, Anderson JM, Hakkinen K, Ahtiainen J, Fragala MS, Thomas GA, Ho JY, Maresh CM. Effect of resistance exercise on muscle steroid receptor protein content in strength-trained men and women. Steroids 2009; 74: 1033-1039
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar