Table 1. Serum hormone concentrations and training volume in an elite weightlifter during a 21-week training periods.

Period

Preparation

Taper

Recovery

Week

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

15

17

19

21

Training volume (1000kg)

123

190

148

145

95

100

77

29

112

90

115

Testosterone

  Total (ng/ml)

7.1

7.0

7.4

8.1

8.3

7.8

8.8

7.5

9.0

8.7

9.5

  Free (pg/ml)

18.3

15.5

17.6

19.5

23.9

22.3

29.1

18.7

21.9

25.6

26.9

Cortisol

  Total (ng/ml)

84

137

164

142

220

190

202

74

182

165

185

  Free (ng/ml)

3.9

8.2

9.1

8.5

18.8

13.9

14.5

4.3

12.1

15.2

14.8

IGF-1 (ng/ml)

216

241

194

176

252

249

274

157

286

201

213

FT3 (pg/ml)

2.67

2.63

3.48

3.01

2.83

2.64

2.73

3.15

3.06

2.40

3.34

FT4 (pg/ml)

13.7

13.6

15.2

13.4

14.1

14.4

12.9

12.1

14.2

12.3

13.1
IGF-1: insulin-like growth factor-1; FT3: free triiodothyronine; FT4: free thyroxine.