Effects of continuous and interval running training on serum growth and cortisol hormones in junior male basketball players

• DOI: 10.1556/aphysiol.90.2003.1.8
• Publication Date: 2004-08-06T12:53:32Z
• Authors: G. Büyükyazi; S. Oguz Karamizrak; Ç. Islegen
• Keywords: Male; Physical Education and Training; Serum cortisol; Serum growth hormone; Adolescent; Hydrocortisone; Basketball; Running; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; R1 Medicine (General) / orvostudomány általában; Growth Hormone; Humans; Body fat ratio; Aerobic training

Effects of two different eight-week aerobic training programs consisting of continuous (CR) or extensive interval running (IR) on serum growth (GH) and cortisol hormones in 33 male basketball players aged 15-16 were assessed. The CR group ran 4.8 km and the IR group ran 4 x 1.2 km, using equal work-to-rest ratio, three times per week. Aerobic power scores of all subjects and anaerobic power marks of the training subjects increased (p<0.01). Upon exertion, though serum GH levels increased in both exercise groups (p<0.01) prior to and following training; cortisol levels increased only in the IR group prior to training, and in both exercise groups following training (p<0.05). Following the eight week period, resting cortisol levels rose in the training (p<0.05) and control (p<0.01) groups. To conclude, an 8-week training program consisting of continuous or extensive interval running has been effective on acute GH and cortisol secretion in 15-16 year-old male athletes.