Abstract des Autors

The present study offers evidence that high-volume weight training of short duration can markedly enhance physiology, which reduces the physiological stress associated with weight training exercise. In this study, several factors, including changes in postexercise heart rate, lactic acid, growth hormone, cortisol, testosterone, the testosterone/cortisol ratio, and the increase in fasting IGF1 concentrations, suggest that physiological adaptations were most apparent as a result of the high-volume training at day 12. Furthermore, many of these adaptations persisted or increased in the following period of normal training intensity. In this context we would suggest that higher volumes of training can enhance several factors better than low-volume training. These factors include (1) increased protein synthesis, which may result in increased LBM and increased rates of tissue repair, (2) FFA mobilization and use during recovery, which may result in lower body fat content, and (3) reduced exercise stress (i.e., a smaller disturbance in homeostasis) and improved exercise tolerance. Furthermore, this study offers evidence that the concept of overreaching is valid. First, a basic tenet of the overreaching concept is that the high-volume phase will beneficially alter physiology, leading to less physiological stress as a result of weight training exercise; evidence from the present study suggests that this is possible. Second, the overreaching period can cause no change or a decrease in performance; after a return to low-volume training a delayed increase in performance can be expected (approximately 2-5 weeks after the high-volume phase). Verf.-Referat