The acute effect of multiple-sets and drop-set systems on the hormonal and immunological responses

Purpose: to compare Multiple-Set (MS) and Drop-Set (DS) systems on acute testosterone responses and at different moments for lymphocytes and monocytes in recreationally trained men. Methods: the study was composed of twelve male subjects(age: 22,5 ± 3,2 years; height: 176,3 ± 6,7 cm; body mass: 75,4 ± 6,9 kg) recreationally trained individuals. The participants performed the 1RM test in the Leg Press 45° and 48h post the first test, did the test again for the reproducibility of the loads. The participants were randomly for both protocols (MS: 3 x 10 reps - 75%1RM; DS: 3 x 10 reps at 80% - 40% - 20% of 1RM), which were separated by 72-hour interval between each one of them. The blood collect of testosterone levels were realized before the experimental protocols (baseline), immediately after (IP), 15-, 30- and 60-minutes after the protocols. Lymphocytes and monocytes were collected at baseline, IP, 24- and 48-hours after the experimental protocols. Results:MS showed an increase in the testosterone levels only at the IP and the DS showed higher values compared to MS. However, the effect size (ES) didn't showed significant differences between the different moments, both protocols presented small and trivial values. The monocytes (24 and 48 hours post-training) and lymphocytes (IP, 24 and 48 hours post-training) responses were higher in DS compared to MS, but these levels didn't exceed the reference values considered salutary. Conclusion: Both protocols are efficient in acute increases in testosterone levels.However, despite the higher values in testosterone levels on DS, when this values compared with MS, both protocols showed similar magnitude. In addition, the small fluctuations in lymphocytes and monocytes observed in both protocols didn't present clinical significance.