Comparison of Acute Hormonal Responses to High and Low-Intensity Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction in Young Wrestlers

  The traditional resistance training is the most effective way known to increase muscle mass. However, high-intensity resistance training may be difficult for some individuals and specific groups. In addition, most people are not encouraged to engage in high-intensity resistance training. Therefore, an alternative intervention is needed to solve this problem. The aim of this study was to compare the acute hormonal responses to high and low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction in young wrestlers. Thirty young wrestlers (age: 16.51 ± 2.1 years, weight: 53.23 ± 7.13 kg, height: 165.14 ± 8.42 cm, body mass index (BMI): 18.64 ± 1.35 kg/m2) participated in a quasi-experimental research. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups of resistance training: Low-intensity (LI), high-intensity (HI), and low-intensity with blood flow restriction (LI-BFR). The training protocol included three exercises: Leg extension, arm curl, and bench press. Blood samples were collected before and 30 minutes after the training sessions. The results showed that the creatine kinase level in the HI group, as well as the cortisol level in the HI and LI-BFR groups, increased significantly after resistance training (P < 0.05). In addition, testosterone/cortisol ratio decreased significantly in all groups (P < 0.05). However, testosterone levels did not change significantly in any groups (P > 0.05). Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that blood flow restriction training with the same anabolic effects, lower muscle damage index, less fatigue, and lower intensity is a better choice for training compared to high-intensity resistance training.