Impact of a Periodized Resistance Training Program on Salivary Testosterone Levels in a Male with Moderate Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Purpose: COPD is characterized by decreased airflow, loss of diffusion area along with a cycle of immobility and muscle atrophy brought on by excessive dyspnea. This results in significant decreases in circulating free testosterone. Unfortunately, current research identifies low testosterone as a significant risk factor in this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a periodized resistance training program on performance of the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) and salivary testosterone levels in a male with moderate COPD. Methods: Upon approval of the training program by Bellarmine University\u27s Institutional Review Board (October 2013), a 62 year old male with moderate COPD (FEV1: 72% predicted) recruited from the community enrolled in the program. The initial evaluation consisted of the SFT, 1 repetition maximum (1 RM) testing and salivary testosterone collection. The subject completed the 11 week training program comprised of 4 lifts (deadlifts, shoulder press, step-ups and bent over rows). Training volume and workloads started at 1 set of 12 repetitions at 65% of 1 RM and ended with 2 sets of 6 repetitions at 85% of 1 RM. Results: Initial results scored the subject at below average on both the SFT and in circulating levels of free testosterone (53.39 pg/mL versus average levels of 70 pg/ml). Upon discharge, the subject scored average or above average on the majority of the SFT variables while circulating testosterone levels measured 132.25 pg/mL (percent change: +122%) Conclusions: A periodized resistance training program significantly improves performance on the SFT and circulating levels of testosterone in a male with moderate COPD