The effect of a resistance training with and without blood flow restriction on cortisol, testosterone and testosterone-to-cortisol ratio in male judo players

Resistance exercise with new training methods such as blood flow restriction, which is performed with lower intensities than the traditional method, can lead to different physiological responses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a period of upper body resistance exercise with blood flow restriction on the level of cortisol, testosterone and the ratio of testosterone to cortisol in male judo players.

Thirty male judo players were divided into two groups of resistance training with and without blood flow restriction. The training program consisted of 6 weeks of resistance training, 3 sessions per week. Resistance exercise with blood flow restriction included performing barbell biceps curl exercise at an intensity corresponding to 30% of one repetition maximum (1-RM) with cuff pressure about 120 to 160 mm Hg (around the proximal area of the arm) based on the systolic pressure of each person. For the traditional resistance training group (without vascular occlusion), subjects performed biceps exercise at an intensity corresponding to 75% of 1-RM.  To measure testosterone and cortisol, first blood sample (5ml) was taken before training from the antecubital vein of the right hand. The second blood was taken 48 hours after the last training session of 6th week, the third blood sample was taken 24 hours before the start of the second 6-week activity and the fourth sample was taken 48 hours after the last training session (after 12 weeks).

Between-group comparisons showed that cortisol (P=0.018), testosterone (P<0.001) and the ratio of testosterone to cortisol (P=0.001) were significantly different beuween two groups of resistance training with blood flow restriction and resistance training. Within-group comparisons showed that cortisol (P<0.001; d=1.76), testosterone (P<0.001; d=4.03) and the ratio of testosterone to cortisol (P<0.001; d=1.53) were increased significantly following resistance training with blood flow restriction and the percentage of changes were 38.48, 121.11 and 53.57%, respectively. Moreover, cortisol (P<0.001; d=1.27), testosterone (P<0.001; d=2.05) and the ratio of testosterone to cortisol (P=0.010; d=0.63) increased significantly in resistance training group by 25.35, 60.29 and 21.66 %, respectively.

According to the results of the research, it could be concluded that both traditional resistance training and resistance training with blood flow restriction can lead to increases in testosterone, cortisol and the ratio of testosterone to cortisol. Furthermore, according to the size of the effect and percentage of differences, it can be mention that effectiveness of resistance training along with blood flow restriction is more pronounced than traditional resistance training.