Effect of age and combined sprint and strength training on plasma catecholamine responses to a Wingate-test

The purpose of this research is to study the effects of aging and combined training (sprint and strength) on catecholamine responses [adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA)].

Thirty-two male subjects voluntarily participated in this study. They were randomly divided into four groups: A young trained group (age 21.4 ± 1.2 years, YT, n = 8), a young control group (age 21.9 ± 1.9 years, YC, n = 8), a middle-aged trained group (age 40.8 ± 2.8 years, AT, n = 8) and a middle-aged control group (age 40.4 ± 2.0 years, AC, n = 8). YT and AT participated in a high intensity sprint and strength training program (HISST) for 13 weeks. All the participants realized the Wingate-test before (P1) and after (P2) HISST. Plasma A and NA concentrations were determined at rest (A 0, NA0) and at the end of exercise (A max, NAmax).

At P1, a significant difference (p < 0.05) in terms of age was observed for NA0 and A 0 between YT and AT and between control groups YC and AC. This age effect disappeared after training when compared YT and AT. After HISST, A max increased significantly (p < 0.05) in YT and AT (from 3.08 ± 0.17 to 3.23 ± 0.34 nmol l(-1) in YT and from 3.23 ± 0.52 to 4.59 ± 0.10 nmol l(-1) in AT). However, NAmax increased significantly (p < 0.05) in AT only (from 3.34 ± 0.31 to 3.75 ± 0.60 nmol l(-1)). A max was highly increased in AT compared to YT (4.59 ± 0.10 vs. 3.23 ± 0.34 nmol l(-1)), respectively.

The combined training (sprint and strength) appeared to reduce the age effect of the catecholamine response both at rest and in response to exercise.