Hormonal, metabolic and perceptual responses to different resistance training systems.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized crossover trial
What was done
Ten healthy men completed two resistance training sessions (multiple-set and pyramid systems) separated by 14 days in a counterbalanced crossover design. Both sessions consisted of three chest exercises (bench press, peck deck, and decline bench press) matched for total volume load. Plasma insulin, growth hormone, testosterone, cortisol, blood glucose, and lactate were measured before and after exercise, and session rating of perceived exertion (session RPE) was assessed 30 minutes post-exercise.
What was found
No numerical values or effect sizes were reported in the abstract. Session RPE did not differ significantly between systems (P > 0.05). Plasma growth hormone, cortisol, and lactate increased significantly post-exercise in both sessions (P < 0.01), with no significant differences between the multiple-set and pyramid protocols (P > 0.05). Specific findings for insulin, testosterone, and blood glucose were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This indicates that structuring resistance training sets as straight sets or pyramid sets induces comparable acute physiological strain and perceived exertion when total volume load is equated.
Limits
The sample size is very small (n = 10) and restricted to healthy men. Only acute responses to a single bout were evaluated, not long-term hypertrophic or strength adaptations. The abstract omits numerical values, variability, confidence intervals, and data for insulin, testosterone, and glucose.
Cited by
- supports High-intensity resistance training causes acute transient spikes in both circulating glucose and cortisol as part of sympathetic nervous system activation.