This investigation compared concentrations of circulating serum testosterone before, during, and after a submaximal treadmill run (30 min at 80% VO2 max) with samples obtained on a baseline (nonexercise) day. Baseline testosterone concentrations were obtained from 6 men (mean age 24 yrs) via an indwelling catheter in the median cubital vein. An initial sample of blood was followed 10 min later by 10 subsequent samples each taken at 10-min intervals. Blood samples were obtained at similar times and intervals on the day of the treadmill run. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum testosterone concentration immediately after the treadmill run when compared to baseline concentrations. No other significant differences were found between baseline and postexercise samples up to 60 min. These results indicate that submaximal treadmill running caused an increase in circulating serum testosterone immediately postexercise that was greater than baseline levels.
Treadmill Running to Improve Speed
While no sanctioned sport competitions may ever take place on a treadmill, there can be distinct advantages to training on a treadmill if the training is done intelligently with an appropriately configured treadmill. There are 2 distinct advantages to treadmill training: an optimal learning environment can be created for improving running mechanics, and treadmill training conditions can safely elicit coordination strategies conducive to enhancing power output and running speed through the manipulation of incline and treadmill speed (4).
