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. 2004;8(1):17-20.

PEAK CORTISOL RESPONSE TO EXHAUSTING EXERCISE: EFFECT OF BLOOD SAMPLING SCHEDULE

W Daly  1 , C Seegers  1 , S Timmerman  1 , A C Hackney  1
Affiliations

PEAK CORTISOL RESPONSE TO EXHAUSTING EXERCISE: EFFECT OF BLOOD SAMPLING SCHEDULE

W Daly et al. Med Sportiva (Krakow Engl Ed). 2004.

Abstract

Introduction: Strenuous exercise provokes increases in circulating cortisol levels. When the peak cortisol response to exercise occurs is a point of contention, as some research suggests the peak response coincides with the end of exercise while other indicate it is delayed and occurs during recovery.

Aim of the study: This study examined when peak cortisol levels occur in response to intensive, exhausting exercise of a prolonged nature.

Methods: Thirty-four healthy male subjects ran on a treadmill until volitional exhaustion. Blood specimens were analyzed for cortisol levels immediately at the end of exercise and at 30, 60, and 90 minutes into recovery.

Results: A significantly greater number (25/34; i.e., 73.5%) of the peak cortisol responses occurred during the recovery period (at 30 - 90 minutes) after the subjects reached volitional exhaustion and had stopped exercising.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that if researchers are interested in assessing the peak cortisol response to exhausting exercise they should continue blood sampling for approximately 1 hour into the recovery period.

Keywords: endocrines; hormones; recovery; stress.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Each line represents an individual subject response for cortisol. The running time until each subject reached exhaustion was variable; thus, a break appears in the X-axis between the Baseline and Impost time points.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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