Growth Hormone and Exercise

In response to the comments about sprinting, I looked further into the relationship between growth hormone(GH) release and exercise.  In terms of sprinting, I found that that the average peak serum GH concentration from a single 30 second sprint was between 10 and 20 ug/L.

In terms of resistance exercise, I found that the average peak serum GH achieved during acute resistance exercise was between 5 and 25 ug/L.  Similarly, the average peak serum GH achieved during acute aerobic exercise is also between 5 and 25 ug/L.

So it appears that either high-intensity sprinting or high-intensity resistance work can lead to similar increases in growth hormone.  Looking at other papers, I found that the growth hormone response to high-intensity exercise decreases somewhat with training.

Comments

[will]

I like to do the Eades’ paleo exercises described in their second book: sprints, squat-jumps, and leaps in that order. I found an unused grassy strip out at the local HS near the weekend soccer teams. I usually achieve nausea during the squat jumps—it’s supposed to indicate GH release.

As an aside, this HS used to be wide-open and non-descript with a vast turf area when I last came here in 2001; but now the football, track, and baseball facilities are totally renovated including 100% artificial playing surfaces and a beautiful composition track and new football seating—but all locked up! Formal signs instructing joggers and walkers to use the four outside track lanes give some hope for the future. On the former slippery dirt track I used to sometimes need to weave between pregnant women pushing strollers.

A former football coach here at the HS is now an NFL head coach and has several Super Bowl rings. His QB here at the HS also became an NFL head coach—but is now an offensive coordinator.

But here I remain on my grassy strip, sprinting, squat-jumping, and leaping—only hoping to induce a little nausea. I like these paleo exercises!

[Matt Metzgar]

Will,

Which Eades book, PP Lifeplan? I have that somewhere.

I threw in a few leaps at the end of my sprints today. It felt pretty good!

[will]

Yes, Matt, from the PPLP exercise chapter. The leaps simulate a river crossing—from rock-to-rock—alternating the landing foot.