Acute and Chronic Catabolic Responses to CrossFit® and Resistance Training in Young Males.

Emanuela Faelli,Marco Panascì,Roberto Codella,Vittoria Ferrando,Piero Ruggeri,Daniele Saverino,Luisa Perasso,Ambra Bisio

doi:10.3390/ijerph17197172

Abstract

Given the wide variety of conditioning program trainings employed, the present study compared the catabolic effects induced by CrossFit® and resistance training in moderately trained subjects. Twenty males joined either the CrossFit® group (n = 10; 30 min/day of “workout of the day”) or the resistance training (RT) group (n = 10; 30 min/day of resistance exercises) thrice a week, for 8 weeks. Salivary levels of cortisol, interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), and uric acid were assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays before (PRE) and 30-min after (POST) SESSION 1 and SESSION 24. Variables’ percentual changes were computed as (POST-PRE)/PRE*100 in each session (Δ%). CrossFit® acutely increased cortisol levels in both sessions, with a significant decrease in Δ%cortisol from SESSION 1 to 24. In the RT group, cortisol values decreased in both sessions, only acutely. A significant decrease in IL-1β levels was registered acutely in both groups, in both sessions, whereas Δ%IL-1β was not different between the two groups. While uric acid levels increased in both groups acutely, a chronic downregulation of Δ%uric acid, from SESSION 1 to 24, was appreciated for the RT group only. Overall, CrossFit® appeared to induce more intense effects than the RT program as to the investigated catabolic responses.

Highlights

Successful sports performance entails an optimal combination of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, muscular power and strength, speed and agility, according to specific tasks [1]
Twenty male young adults, classified as moderately trained according to Sheppard et al [31], with 1 year of experience in CrossFit® and Resistance Training, were enrolled for the study. They were divided into two groups, with a convenience sampling: the CrossFit® group (n = 10) and the resistance training (RT) group (n = 10)
Concentrations of cortisol, IL-1 beta β (IL-1β), and uric acid were assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA, Salimetrics LLC, Cambridge, UK, product code 1-3102, 1-3902, and 1-3802, respectively), following manufacturers’ instructions

Summary

Introduction

Successful sports performance entails an optimal combination of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, muscular power and strength, speed and agility, according to specific tasks [1]. Amongst a variety of training regimens for increasing performance, resistance training (RT) is essential, as it enhances muscular strength and power [2]. RT aims at increasing skeletal muscle strength by working against a weight or force. High-intensity functional training (HIFT) has received growing popularity and is alleged to improve overall physical conditions [3]. HIFT relies on basic elements of “every day” movements derived from both aerobic and resistance efforts, performed at high intensities. The efficiency of exercise training depends to the training load, and on the athlete’s capability to sustain it. One way to gauge exercise-induced internal environmental stress fluctuations is through the evaluation of the hormonal responses, and through the monitoring of biomarkers of

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