Does Intense Endurance Workout Have an Impact on Serum Levels of Sex Hormones in Males?

The benefits of physical activity and sports are widely known and proved to be crucial for overall health and well-being. In this research, the authors decided to measure the impact of endurance training in a professional male rowing team on the serum concentration levels of testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and nitric oxide (NO) and apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1). Proper levels of the serum concentration are necessary in order to maintain physical effectiveness. Authors analyzed the data and reviewed the former conterminous articles to find the possible mechanisms leading to changes of serum concentration of certain hormones and molecules. The direct effect of physical activity was a decrease in testosterone serum concentration (from 7.12 ± 0.4 to 6.59 ± 0.35 (ng/mL)), sex hormone binding globulin serum concentration (from 39.50 ± 2.48 to 34.27 ± 2.33 (nmol/L)), nitric oxide serum concentration (from 440.21 ± 88.64 to 432 ± 91.89 (ng/mL)), increase in estradiol serum concentration (from 78.2 ± 11.21 to 83.01 ± 13.21 (pg/mL)) and no significant increase in Apo-A1 serum concentration (from 2.63 ± 0.2 to 2.69 ± 0.21 (mg/mL)). Low testosterone concentration in OTS may be a consequence of increased conversion to estradiol, because gonadotropic stimulation is maintained. Apo-A1 serum concentration was measured due to a strong connection with testosterone level and its possible impact of decreasing cardiovascular risk.

Multiannual, Intensive Strength-Endurance Training Modulates the Activity of the Cardiovascular and Autonomic Nervous System among Rowers of the International Level.

INTRODUCTION: Professional athlete training is significantly different from recreational physical activity, and sustained, repetitive exposure to over-strenuous and intensive training may result in critical changes of most systems and organs in a sportsman's body. AIM: The assessment of the influence of multiannual strength-endurance training on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and cardiovascular system (CVS) among the rowers of Polish national team. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 rowers, aged 20-30, seniors of Polish national team were qualified into the study. The functional examination of ANS was conducted by means of Task Force® Monitor system. The assessed parameters included hemodynamic parameters, heart rate, and blood pressure variability and reflexes sensitivity of baroreceptors. In order to examine and compare the reaction of autonomic nervous system the subjects underwent a tilt test. RESULTS: In the study group, significantly higher levels of sBP (129.3 ± 12.2 vs 118.3 ± 8.4, p = 0.0030), SI (59.9 ± 8.8 vs 41.2 ± 6.8, p > 0.001), CI (3.2 ± 0.5 vs 2.4 ± 0.4, p > 0.001), and significantly lower levels of HR (54.2 ± 5.3 vs 60.1 ± 5.7, p = 0.0034) and TPRI (2333.3 ± 389.9 vs 2950.2 ± 604.2, p = 0.0012) compared to the control group, were found. After the tilt test the levels of HR (p = 0.0005) and TPRI (p = 0.0128) were significantly higher but SI (p > 0.001) and CI (p = 0.0006) were significantly lower in the study group compared to the control. CONCLUSIONS: Multiannual strength-endurance training connected with rowing activities substantially modulates the activity of cardiovascular and autonomic nervous system, influences the volumetric workload of the heart and structural changes, and increases the sensitivity of reflexes of arterial baroreceptors.

Long-term high intensity sport practice modulates adaptative changes in athletes' heart and in the autonomic nervous system profile.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare cardiovascular and autonomic adaptation changes in athletes exposed to high intensity and uninterrupted training for extended periods of time. METHODS: We assessed hemodynamic profile and cardiac function in 22 international master-level athletes free of cardiovascular disease who experienced particularly intensive and uninterrupted training over an 8- to 21-year-period. RESULTS: One-way ANOVA revealed that in athletes, extreme and uninterrupted strength and endurance training over long periods of time (up to 21 years) causes an increase in resting heart rate (50.3±7.1 vs. 63.0±10.7, P=0.0429), diastolic (65.8±5.2 vs. 75.2±5.7, P=0.0222) and mean blood pressure (85.4±6.0 vs. 95.6±6.4, P=0.0166). On multiple regression, increasing training experience was related to decrease in RRI (R2=0.18, P=0.0481) and increase in dBP (R2=0.32, P=0.0064) and mBP (R2=0.31, P=0.0075) although the effect was small. A negative correlation was observed between the training age and the parameters describing parasympathetic function: HF-RRI (R=-0.54, P=0.0321), HF-dBP (R=-0.52, P=0.0401) and PSD-RRI (R=-0.51, P=0.0414). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term sport practice at a world class level causes an increase in resting heart rate, diastolic and mean blood pressure, and decrease of the parasympathetic dominance and this may result from decreasing adjustment to large training loads.

The influence of active exercise in low positions on the functional condition of the lumbar-sacral segment in patients with discopathy.

BACKGROUND: Pain in the lower segments of the spine is among the most frequent symptoms in industrialized countries. Injuries to intervertebral discs are the cause of this kind of discomfort in 90% of cases. The factors promoting the disease are: physical activity limitation, prolonged sitting position, overweight and bad movement stereotypes. New methods of treating sacral pain ignore the aspect of weakening the muscle force and do not introduce active exercise to the program of rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the work was to describe the influence of active exercise in low positions on the functional condition of patients with L-S segment discopathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examination group consisted of 20 patients, including 17 women and 3 men. The examination was conducted twice, before and after a two-week long series of rehabilitation. The examined patients practiced a 20-minute exercise program for 10 days. The subjective part of the examination referred to pain discomfort felt by the patients and existing difficulties in performing everyday activities. The objective part included the measurement of movement range of the lumbar segment with the use of Schober's test, finger-to-floor test and spine rotation in the sitting position. RESULTS: It was shown that intervertebral disc disease may lead to spine flexibility limitation and to pain occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Practicing active exercise in low positions significantly improves the movement range and body posture and it reduces pain in the lower segments of the spine. Moreover, the patient's functional abilities are improved while performing everyday activities.

Discopathy of the lumbar-sacral segment and its influence on sexual dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disc disease is a widespread medical and social problem. Degeneration of intervertebral discs can lead to disc disease, commonly known as discopathy. One of the consequences of discopathy is pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots that supply the genitals and sexual centers located in the core. In addition, the accompanying pain and limitation of mobility can lead to the occurrence of sexual dysfunction. OBJECTIVES: The goal of the study was to ascertain the influence of discopathy in the lumbosacral (L-S) segment on the occurrence of sexual dysfunction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 50 hospitalized patients with discopathy in the L-S segment were asked to complete a specially prepared questionnaire (11 questions). The goal of the survey was to compare the patients' satisfaction with their sex life before and after the disease. The questions were constructed in a way that excluded other indicators that could affect their sexual activity, i.e.: bad moods, bad family relations, or a lack of sexual activity due to age or the lack of a partner. RESULTS: Discopathy in the lumbar-sacral segment has an influence on sexual activity. A decrease in the assessment of satisfaction with one's sex life can be observed among patients with discopathy. CONCLUSIONS: The pain and neurological symptoms associated with intervertebral disc disease reduce the patients' satisfaction with their sex lives. Patients in the group surveyed noted a change in sexual performance, often resulting in passivity, discouragement, weakness or a complete lack of interest in sex. The disorders also affect the emotional state. The patients also noted a significant decrease in physical activity.