Comparison of the Effect of Circular Resistance Training and High-Intensity Functional Training on Activating Factors of Satellite Cells (MyoD ‎‏and‏ Myf-5‎) in Non-Athlete Young Men

Satellite cells are the primary stem cells in skeletal muscle responsible for postnatal muscle growth, hypertrophy, and regeneration. The present study compared the effect of two methods of circuit resistance training (CRT) and high-intensity functional training (HIFT) on the activating factors of satellite cells in non-athlete young men.

In this semi-experimental study, with a pre-test, post-test, and control group, 45 non-athlete young men in 2022 were selected and divided into three groups randomly: HIFT (n= 15), CRT (n= 15), and control (n= 15). Both training programs were performed for eight weeks, three sessions per week, and 40 to 50 minutes each for the experimental groups. Blood sampling for measurement of MyoD and Myf-5 gens expression was done in two phases: pre-test and post-test. The expression level of the variables was estimated by the ELISA method using a microplate reader. The data were analyzed using the Covariance and Benferroni post hoc tests.

The results of the study showed that both training methods had significant effects on increasing MyoD and Myf5 in non-athlete men (p=0.001). However, their improvements were higher in the HIFT group than in the CRT group (p=0.041).

These results show the effect of both training methods on increasing MyoD and Myf-5; however, high-intensity functional training was more effective in improving the mentioned variables. Therefore, coaches, athletes, and other officials involved in sports exercise are recommended to use these training methods, especially HIFT, in order to improve factors affecting satellite cells.