Salivary testosterone and cortisol concentrations after two different resistance training exercises

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the acute hormonal responses of salivary testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) concentrations during and after two different resistance exercises involving the lower and the upper body, respectively.

METHODS: For this reason, 13 healthy recreationally trained male athletes performed an identical strength protocol (5x10 reps, with ~75% of 1 RM) with the exercises bench press and back-squat in a cross-over design. Saliva samples were taken at baseline (t0), mid training (t1), immediately after (t2), 15 (t3) and 45 minutes after the training (t4). Samples were analyzed for T and C, and the T/C ratio was calculated.

RESULTS: T concentrations increased significantly from t0 to t2, t3 and t4 and also at t3 and t4 for C in the back-squat protocol (P<0.05). There were no significant changes for T and C in the bench press protocol (P<0.05). The T/C ratio remained constant for the bench press protocol. The T/C ratio increased in the squat protocol at t2 and decreased at t3 and t4.

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that back-squat exercise can change the hormonal state of the body after an intense resistance training workout, while an exercise with a lower amount of muscle mass (i.e. bench press) has almost no influence on T and C.