The Effect of Resistance Exercises on Testosterone

Abstract

Metabolism rearranges metabolic activities in order to adapt to internal or external stresses to which it is exposed. Since training creates a stress in the body, it triggers the adaptation process of the metabolism. However, activities such as endurance or strength training initiate different adaptation processes on the metabolism. The aim of our study is to examine the acute and chronic effects of resistance exercises on testosterone. For this purpose, a search with the English language limitation was made in Google Scholar, PubMed and EBSCO databases from the studies conducted before September 2020. Only studies in English language were included and articles only were cited in our study. When the studies were examined, it was emphasized that in order for resistance exercises to increase the testosterone hormone acutely or chronically, the training must be of sufficient volume and high intensity. However, it was seen that metabolism gives high testosterone responses especially to hypertrophy type resistance exercises. In addition, increases in testosterone vary depending on whether the training program is aimed at large muscle groups, the use of free weights or functional exercises, the priority of training large muscle groups in training programs, low body fat percentage, and the average young age of the research group.

Keywords

• Resistance exercise
• Testosterone
• Hormone

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