Effect of Different Concurrent Training Protocols on Muscle Strength, Serum Testosterone and Cortisol Level in Young Wrestlers

  The aim of this study is examine effects of different concurrent training protocols on muscle strength, Testosterone and cortisol serum levels in young wrestlers. 

  41 young men (18-25 year-old) were randomly divided in 5 groups: 1.endurance-strength training with 8 hours inter-Session recovery (ES8) 2.Strength- endurance training with 8 hours inter-Session recovery (SE8) 3.Strength- endurance training without recovery (SE0) 4.Endurance-strength training without recovery (ES0) 5.Control (CON). The experimental groups performed Strength training 4-8 repetitions ،85-100% 1RM and endurance training with running 10-30 minutes at 70-85 percent of final speed of IFT 30-15 test. Frequency of Session was three times a week for eight weeks. The blood sampling was performed after 12 hours fasting in 8-9 am to evaluate serum cortisol (C) and testosterone (T) concentration. One–way ANOVA and paired t-test was applied for examining training effects (α=0.05) and η2 for evaluate effect size. 

  The result of study showed that significant difference was between SE8 with SE0, ES0 and CON on lower body strength (p=0.04, p=0.004, p=0.004). Lower body strength improved after ES8, SE8 training (10% and 17%). Upper body strength increased after ES8, SE8, and SE0 with no difference between the groups (5%, 10% and 4%). 

  Cortisol concentration decreased in SE8 (-8%). The results indicate that performing strength and endurance training with 8 hours recovery between training could improve upper and lower body strength in young wrestlers.