Ac. Fry et al., ENDOCRINE RESPONSES TO OVERREACHING BEFORE AND AFTER 1 YEAR OF WEIGHTLIFTING, Canadian journal of applied physiology, 19(4), 1994, pp. 400-410
Nine elite male junior weightlifters (mean age 17.6 +/- 0.3 yrs) perfo
rmed weightlifting tests before (Test 1) and after (Test 2) 1 week of
increased training volume (overreaching) and repeated the protocol aft
er 1 year of their training program. Strength increased by Year 2 (p <
0.05) but did not change during either week of increased training vol
ume. The 1-week overreaching stimulus resulted in attenuated exercise-
induced testosterone concentrations during Year 1, but augmented exerc
ise-induced testosterone concentrations during Year 2. Testosterone co
ncentrations at 7 a.m. decreased for only Year 1. For both years, the
1-week overreaching stimulus increased cortisol at 7 a.m., indicative
of the increased training volumes. Testosterone/cortisol was not affec
ted by increased training volume for either year. One year of chronic
weightlifting and prior exposure to the overreaching stimulus appears
to decrease the detrimental effects of stressful training on the endoc
rine system.