Physiological explanation of how squats release testosterone

[theTHICKNESS]

Ok first post here. I want to find scientific information on how doing squats apparently releases testosterone. It is pretty common for people to say "it just does." Beyond the fact that "it just does," I was hoping I could find a concrete explanation behind the physiological processes that occur when exercising legs.

[Engineer_Guy]

Your body will produce testosterone during any lift, not just squats. It's known that the body releases more testosterone doing back squats than most other lifts, probably due to the muscle recruitment involved. Whether that greater amount of testosterone is really significant though is debatable. If you want some scientific articles on the subject you can Google as well as anyone which is what 99% of the people here are going to do. The problem with "scientific" evidence from the internet is you will find articles that will tell you opposite things.

[SuffolkPunch]

The effect last only a few minutes IIRC.

To impact muscle growth, it would need to last several hours.

[theTHICKNESS]

Right I searched on google for articles but many were unhelpful. I understand that there has not been enough evidence to support the claims about testosterone but bodybuilders have clearly seen significant results by adding squats to their routine.

Let me rephrase the question. Ignore how squats increase testosterone. Perhaps I am looking for an answer on how exercising increases testosterone levels. More along the lines of a scientific approach on a cellular and hormonal level.

[Engineer_Guy]

but bodybuilders have clearly seen significant results by adding squats to their routine.

I would say this has more to do with squats being a great exercise rather than releasing testosterone.

Let me rephrase the question. Ignore how squats increase testosterone. Perhaps I am looking for an answer on how exercising increases testosterone levels. More along the lines of a scientific approach on a cellular and hormonal level.

My education is not in the correct field to provide you that information

[jammyo40]

http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_...pendlay_secret

[Gmedlo]

This may be a decent place to start: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22105707

The only attempt at a physiological explanation I've heard is that during exercise the rate at which free testosterone is cleared from the plasma decreases. (http://www.springerlink.com/content/u430t368v60r3777/) There hasn't been a whole lot of research in this area.

[theTHICKNESS]

Awesome. The second link is exactly what I am looking for TY

[Farley1324]

Squats should be done because they are an awesome, effective exercise. They are great at producing strength and size and should be a major, primary exercise in most routines. Ignore the testosterone production junk

[FunkymonkAW]

May not directly answer your question, but it's an interesting read nonetheless:

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/res...ch-review.html

[chazzy1864]

Worrying about testosterone or growth hormone release is f*cking stupid.

Your hormones fluctuate throughout the day. Fasting and sleeping raise testosterone. So apparently going into a coma would get us jacked!


http://www.bodybuildingweb.net/blog/...rowth-hormone/

^ That is a brief overview of how it is pointless. I don't care to track down everything else I usually paste.

[CaseyofDoom]

You should focus your time and attention to your diet and training. Worrying about slight hormone fluctuations that might give you a .01% benefit is pointless and a detour away from success.

[Tyciol]

I had thought test was made in our gonads. Why is blood going there when it should be going to my muscles?