Mazreno, A.B. et al.: Comparison of the effects of active and passive recovery... Sport Science 6 (2013) 1: 28‐32 28 COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECOVERY AFTER INCREMENTAL EXERCISE TO EXHAUSTION ON SERUM TESTOSTERONE AND PROGESTERONE LEVELS OF ATHLETES Alireza Babai Mazreno 1 , Ibrahim Salmani Nodoushan 2 and Nadjme Hajian 3 1 Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan, Iran 2 Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran 3 Institute of Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Original scientific paper Abstract Introduction: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of active and passive recovery after a very heavy exercise session (incremental exercise to exhaustion) on serum testosterone and progesterone levels of athletes. Materials and Methods: A total of 26 healthy, active sprinters participated voluntarily in the study. Exclusion factors included endocrinal, cardiac diseases and diabetes. Blood samples were drawn at three stages; baseline, immediately after an excessively heavy workout and 10 minutes after recovery on an empty stomach. Variance analysis was the statistical test used. A P_value < 0.05 was considered significant and SPSS 18 software program was used for entering the data in the computer. Findings: The results showed that passive recovery results in more reduction of testosterone and progesterone levels as compared to active recovery, but this difference is not significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that type of recovery and post recovery period has no effect on testosterone and progesterone serum levels of athletes. Key words: recovery, active, passive, exercise, exhaustion, testosterone, progesterone Introduction One of the problems faced by athletes, especially during competition and training is return to initial levels before training or competition. This period is defined as the time required to return to the initial metabolic state. During this period, various metabolic processes take place in order to replenish the lost energy and storage. These processes are as important as the processes involved during exercise and work. Incomplete recovery processes between training sessions or competition results in an increased tiredness and reduction in ability to perform further activities. In general there are two types of recovery; passive recovery and active recovery. Active recovery is generally considered to be a bit of light practice session after heavy training or competition and it is believed that it improves recovery (Flier, 2004). The increase in cardiac output due to passive recovery is relatively less than that due to active recovery and lesser involvement of muscles results in a lower number of messages from mechanical receptors and central orders (Karkoulias, et al., 2008). Active recovery results in more lactate uptake as compared to passive recovery (Hammes, 2003). Also, light active recovery after heavy exercise maintains adrenergic activity and catecholamine concentration (Wigernaes, et al., 2000). The testosterone that is secreted by Leydig cells present in the testes is necessary for the growth and division of fertility cells involved in sperm production (Gupta, et al., 1996). Approximately 97% of the testosterone after secretion from the testes loosely attaches with plasma albumin or more strongly with sex hormone binding globulin. It remains in blood circulation for about half to one hour. The testosterone remains in tissues or is converted into an inactive form to be excreted later on (Gupta, et al., 1996). Tokmakidis and coworkers showed that testosterone hormone levels do not increase (Gupta, et al., 1996) or alter (Declan, et al., 2003) after a training session. Certain studies have shown that testosterone levels increase after cessation of training (Fairchild, et al., 2003) while others have reported no change in levels (Declan, et al., 2003; Crisafulli, et al., 2003; Wigernaes, et al., 2001). Progesterone is one of the steroidal hormones whose large quantities can strengthen re- absorption of sodium, chloride and water from the renal distal tubules like estrogens, testosterone and supra renal adrenal hormones. But the extraordinary fact is that progesterone causes excretion of water and sodium most of the time that is due to competition between progesterone and aldosterone as they have common protein receptors for attachment that causes the transfer of sodium ions from the epithelial tubular cells. When progesterone attaches to these receptors, aldosterone cannot attach to them. Thus, though progesterone it can result in mild increase in the re-absorption of sodium and water in the renal tubules, it antagonizes aldosterone strongly thus resulting in excretion of sodium and water from the body. It is proposed that measurement of testosterone and progesterone levels can be one of the important characteristics determining physiological pressure due to training (Fairchild, et al., 2003). Decreased levels of testosterone and progesterone are signs of increased catabolic processes.