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Strength training effects on physical performance and serum hormones in young soccer players

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An Erratum to this article was published on 17 November 2004

Abstract

To determine the effects of simultaneous explosive strength and soccer training in young men, 8 experimental (S) and 11 control (C) players, aged 17.2 (0.6) years, were tested before and after an 11-week training period with respect to the load-vertical jumping curve [loads of 0–70 kg (counter-movement jump CMJ0–70)], 5- and 15-m sprint performances, submaximal running endurance and basal serum concentrations of testosterone, free testosterone and cortisol. In the S group, the 11-week training resulted in significant increases in the low-force portion of the load-vertical jumping curve (5–14% in CMJ0–30, P<0.01) and in resting serum total testosterone concentrations (7.5%, P<0.05), whereas no changes were observed in sprint running performance, blood lactate during submaximal running, resting serum cortisol and resting serum free testosterone concentrations. In the C group, no changes were observed during the experimental period. In the S group, the changes in CMJ0 correlated (P<0.05–0.01) with the changes in the 5-m (r=0.86) and 15-m (r=0.92) sprints, whereas the changes in CMJ40 correlated negatively with the changes in the testosterone:cortisol ratio (r=−0.84, −0.92, respectively, P<0.05). These data indicate that young trained soccer players with low initial strength levels can increase explosive strength by adding low-frequency, low-intensity explosive-type strength training. The inverse correlations observed between changes in CMJ40 and changes in the testosterone:cortisol ratio suggest that a transient drop in this ratio below 45% cannot always be interpreted as a sign of overstrain or neuroendocrine dysfunction.

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Declaration

The experiments comply with the current laws of the country in which the experiments were performed

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigación y Medicina del Deporte de Navarra, Gobierno de Navarra, C/ Paulino Caballero 13, 31002, Pamplona, Spain

    E. M. Gorostiaga, M. Izquierdo, M. Ruesta & J. Ibáñez

  2. Club Atlético Osasuna, Pamplona, Spain

    J. Iribarren

  3. Centro Olímpico de Estudios Superiores, Comité Olímpico Español, Madrid, Spain

    J. J. González-Badillo

Authors
  1. E. M. Gorostiaga
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  2. M. Izquierdo
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  3. M. Ruesta
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  4. J. Iribarren
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  5. J. J. González-Badillo
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  6. J. Ibáñez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. M. Gorostiaga.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1266-3

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Gorostiaga, E.M., Izquierdo, M., Ruesta, M. et al. Strength training effects on physical performance and serum hormones in young soccer players. Eur J Appl Physiol 91, 698–707 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-1032-y

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