The effect of resistance training with and without vascular occlusion on serum levels of some anabolic and catabolic hormones in active girls

The effect of occlusion training at different time intervals on muscle growth factors in girls is a new topic. Therefore, the present study conducted to study effects of resistance training with and without vascular occlusion on serum levels of some anabolic and catabolic hormones in active girls.

For this purpose, 36 female students of physical education with an average body mass index of 23.32±2.79 kg/m2 were divided into three groups (n=12) including resistance training without vascular occlusion, resistance training with vascular occlusion, and control groups. Exercise groups performed resistance training for 30 minutes, three sessions per week, for six weeks and vascular occlusion was applied by closing the tourniquet around the proximal arm with a pressure of 100 mmHg. Fasting blood samples were collected before the start, 24 hours after, the 6th session, and the 18th session of the exercise protocol. Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1, growth hormone, cortisol, testosterone, and insulin were measured by Elisa method. To extract results, the analysis of variance with repeated measures and Bonferroni post hoc tests were applied at the significant level of p<0.05.

The results showed that after six weeks of intervention, the occlusion and non-occlusion resistance training reduced significantly both cortisol (p=0.01) and insulin (p=0.01) hormones; while testosterone (p=0.95) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (p=0.82) did not change significantly.

The results showed that low-intensity occlusion resistance training can induce alterations in the insulin and cortisol hormones similar to high-intensity non-occlusion resistnace intervention.