Please cite this article in press as: Bottaro M, et al., Effects of rest duration between sets of resistance training on
acute hormonal responses in trained women, J Sci Med Sport (2007), doi:
ARTICLE IN PRESS
JSAMS-288;
No. of Pages 6
Resistance training and hormone
5
cle size due to resistance training may be related
to exercise-induced alterations on this hormone.
However, there is evidence suggesting that sys-
temic GH has negligible effects on muscle fiber
hypertrophy.
tion between GH and muscle adaptation may be
only mathematical rather than biological.
Also, earlier studies have indicated that resis-
tance exercise with 30 s interset rest period is
substantially effective in inducing muscular hyper-
trophy and concomitant increase in strength.
However, it is important to report that previous
studies have shown that the use of short rest
intervals may compromise the increases in muscle
strength.
short as 30 s may not be recommended when the
training purpose is to achieve strength gains due to
decrease in total work volume.
Practical implications
· During resistance training, shorter rest inter-
vals can be used to promote skeletal muscle
hypertrophy. Long rest intervals can be used
to increase muscle strength.
· Short rest intervals, during resistance training,
mean that less time is spent in the gym.
· Short rest intervals of 30 s are efficient for
increasing growth hormone response to resis-
tance training.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Sabin Insti-
tute for hormonal analysis and for providing trained
technicians for blood collection. We express our
gratitude to the women who participated in the
study. Dr. Martim Bottaro would like to thanks the
Brazilian National Board for Scientific and Tech-
nological Development (CNPq) for the research
assistantship support.
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