@article{ref1,
title="Relationships between salivary free testosterone and the expression of force and power in elite athletes",
journal="Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness",
year="2012",
author="Crewther, B. T. and Kilduff, L. P. and Cook, C. J. and Cunningham, D. J. and Bunce, P. and Bracken, R. M. and Gaviglio, C. M.",
volume="52",
number="2",
pages="221-227",
abstract="AIM: This study examined the predictive relationships between the salivary free testosterone (T) concentrations of elite athletes and the expression of force and power. <br><br>METHODS: A group of elite male rugby players (N.=64) were assessed for peak force (PF), peak rate of force development (PRFD), force at 100 milliseconds (F100 ms) and 250 milliseconds (F250 ms) during an isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and/or peak power (PP) and height during a countermovement jump (CMJ). Saliva samples were collected before testing and assayed for free T. Relationships between individual T concentrations and performance were assessed as a pooled group and 4 sub-groups of equal size. <br><br>RESULTS: As pooled data sets, none of the IMTP and CMJ performance variables were significantly correlated with free T in either the PF or PP groups (r=0.01-0.23). The PF and PP abilities of the 4 sub-groups were significantly different, so that PF1>PF2>PF3>PF4 (P<0.001) and PP1>PP2>PP3>PP4 (P<0.01). When the 4 sub-groups were analysed, the T concentrations of the PF4 group were significantly (P<0.05-0.01) correlated to PRFD (r=0.69) and F100 ms (r=0.55) during the IMTP, as was F100 ms in the PF1 group (r=0.66). In the PP1 group, free T also correlated to CMJ height (r=0.62). <br><br>CONCLUSION: The key conclusion is that the expression of force and power in an elite athletic group may be dependent, to some extent, on individual variation in salivary free T concentrations and existing strength or power levels. The current results also confirm that the grouping of elite athletes of mixed strength or power ability may bias predictive results in a manner not reflective of sub-groups within this population.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-4707",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}