Comparsion the changes in hormonal levels of testosterone and cortisol following resistance training with and without blood flow restriction in female athletes

Background: There is a great deal of variability in the response of cortisol and testosterone to different methods of exercise training. One of the methods of exercise that is considered today is the exercises with blood flow restriction. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the changes in hormonal levels of testosterone and cortisol following resistance training with and without blood flow restriction in female athletes.

Methods: 30 active females aged 23-30 years were randomly divided into three groups: traditional resistance training, resistance training with blood flow restriction and control. Training started with one set of 30 reps and ended with two sets repeated until exhaustion. Blood sampling prior to and immediately after exercise training took place to measure levels of testosterone and cortisol. T-test for comparison within group and one-way ANOVA was used to compare between groups comparison.

Results: Results showed no significant increase for testosterone levels in within and between groups comparison. (P=0/724). Also, cortisol levels were significantly increased only in group without blood flow restriction compared to the pre-test (P=0/001). But in between groups comparison, there was a significant increase in serum levels of cortisol in two training groups compared to the control group (P=0/002).

Conclusion: It seems that athletes who are in the rehabilitation phase and are not capable of lifting heavy weights, low intensity exercises with blood flow restriction can be replaced with without blood flow restriction exercises with high intensity.