Muscle power increases after resistance training in growth-hormone-deficient adults.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE:
To measure the effects of a resistance training (RT) program over muscle function and body composition of adults with GH deficiency without replacement.

METHODS:
11 GH-deficient patients (39 +/- 11 yr) were evaluated in four occasions (two pretraining and at 6 and 12-wk of training). We performed anthropometric measurements and physical tests. Muscle power was measured by a specific tensiometer (Fitro, Bratislava, Slovakia) in five different exercises:
seated chest press, rear lat pull-down, knee extension, standing upright row, and triceps press down. Muscle endurance was assessed by maximum number of sit-ups and maximum static strength by measurement with a handgrip dynamometer. A 12-wk home-based RT program was individually prescribed and consisted of 13 exercises, performed each other day, using simple material.

RESULTS:
No significant differences occurred in body weight or limb circumferences ( > 0.05), although the sum of central skinfolds decreased with RT (111 +/- 9 vs 100 +/- 9 mm; < 0.05). RT induced significant gains in four of five exercises:
rear lat pull-down (141 +/- 19 vs 198 +/- 20 W), standing upright row (134 +/- 22 vs 157 +/- 24 W), triceps press down (85 +/- 14 vs 123 +/- 21 W), and seated chest press (114 +/- 20 vs 143 +/- 21 W; < 0.05). Sit-up results also showed significant improvements, while handgrip did not ( > 0.05).

CONCLUSION:
GH-deficient adults without GH replacement may improve their maximum muscle power when submitted to an individualized, simple, and short home-based RT program. Considering that limb girths did not significantly change, the gains were most likely due to improvements in neuromuscular components.

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Author information

Author/s: Werlang Coelho, Carla (C); Rebello Velloso, Claudio (C); Resende de Lima Oliveira Brasil, Rosane (R); Vaisman, Mário (M); Gil Soares de Araújo, Claudio (C);

Affiliation: Physical Education Graduate Program, Universidade Gama Filho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Medicine and science in sports and exercise (Med Sci Sports Exerc), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Oct; vol 34 (issue 10) : pp 1577-81

Dates: Created 2002/10/08; Completed 2003/04/03; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12370558, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Exercise - physiology
Female
Growth Hormone - deficiency
Humans

Male
Middle Aged
Muscle, Skeletal - physiology
Physical Education and Training
Physical Fitness - physiology

Associated Chemicals: Growth Hormone (9002-72-6)

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