effects of resistance exercise type on cortisol and androgen cross talk in resistance-trained women

The current study aimed to compare the effect of hypertrophy-, strength-, and power-type resistance exercise on resistance-trained women considering cortisol and androgen cross talk. after one-repetition maximum (1-rm) estimation, ten resistance-trained women (age: 26.30 ± 4.95 years; body mass index: 22.07 ± 2.02 kg/m2; body fat: 24.64 ± 4.98%) conducted hypertrophy- (70% of 1-rm), strength- (90% of 1-rm), and power-type (45% of 1-rm) resistance exercise for three consecutive weeks. the movements included lever leg extension, reverse-grip lat pull-down, horizontal leg press, standing biceps cable curl, lying leg curl, machines bench press, standing cable triceps extension, and seated calf raises. fasting blood was taken before and immediately after each trial. statistical analyses were performed at a significance level of p <0.05. all resistance exercise types caused a significant decrease in serum cortisol levels. strength- and power-type resistance exercises reduced the serum testosterone level significantly. hypertrophy- and power-types significantly increased the testosterone to cortisol ratio. it can be concluded that hypertrophy-, strength-, and power-type resistance exercises can improve anabolic responses in resistance-trained women.