TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2012//
TI  - Relationships between salivary free testosterone and the expression of force and power in elite athletes
JO  - Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness
A1  - Crewther, B. T.
A1  - Kilduff, L. P.
A1  - Cook, C. J.
A1  - Cunningham, D. J.
A1  - Bunce, P.
A1  - Bracken, R. M.
A1  - Gaviglio, C. M.
SP  - 221
EP  - 227
VL  - 52
IS  - 2
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-4707
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -