Associations between Testosterone, Body Composition, and Performance Measures of strength and Power in Recreational, Resistance- Trained Men

Associations between Testosterone, Body Composition, and Performance Measures of strength and Power in Recreational, Resistance- Trained Men

The objective of the current cross-sectional study was to determine whether relationships existed between testosterone (TEST), back squat (BS) one-repetition maximum (1RM), body composition, and power-oriented tests of horizontal ((standing long jump (SLJ)) and vertical ((countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ)) jumping ability in recreational, resistance-trained males. Twenty-nine men (mean ± SD; age 26.2 ± 4.5 years; height 176.6 ± 6.9 cm; weight 84.7 ± 11.7 kg; 15.2 ± 6.3 % body fat) participated. Total TEST, body composition, SLJ, CMVJ, and BS 1RM were assessed. Lower body power output was calculated from body mass and CMVJ height. Bivariate (Pearson) correlations were computed to determine significance (p<0.05). The 1RM BS-to-body-mass ratio was 1.80 ± 0.2. Total TEST was 34.3 ± 10.2 nmol•L-1. There were correlations between lean mass (LM) and peak power (r=0.48; p=0.01), LM and BS 1RM (r=0.64; p=0.001), BS 1RM and peak power (r=0.70, p=0.001), and CMVJ and SLJ (r=0.57, p=0.001). There were no correlations between TEST and performance measures (SLJ, r= -0.03; CMVJ, r= -0.18; 1RM BS, r= -0.21). Total TEST levels are not correlated with performance measures of lower body strength and power in this population; however, BS 1RM is correlated with lower body power and LM. TEST cannot be used to predict select measures of performance in a cross-sectional sample of recreational lifters, but consistent adherence to recreational resistance training may have a positive effect on SLJ and CMVJ performance.