N. Travis Triplett, PhD, is a Professor of Exercise Science at Appalachian State University, and the current President of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (USA). She has worked in Sports Physiology at the US Olympic Training Center and done international research at Southern Cross University (Lismore), the University of Jyvaskyla (Finland) and the University of Valencia (Spain). She is a founding Fellow of the NSCA and holds the Sports Performance Coach certification from USA Weightlifting and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the NSCA.

QUOTES

“If you have a basic understanding of hormones, this can help inform your coaching”

“The most important reason to measure hormone levels is when you are suspecting over-reaching or over-training”

“The optimal weeks for strength and hypertrophy training for females would be late in the second week and all of the third week of the menstrual cycle”

“One of the reasons female athletes may use contraceptives is to help avoid massive fluctuations in hormones and PMS symptoms”

“Testosterone levels doesn’t really change at rest long-term from training but the acute changes post training are beneficial”

“Peptide hormones like Growth Hormone peak and fall much faster than steroid hormones”

“I know long slow stuff has got a bad rap with cortisol but I’ve seen just as high cortisol responses with stressful shorter interval training”

Show notes

1) Travis’ journey from first stepping foot in a weight training class at university to president of the NSCA

2) The influence on hormones, especially testosterone and growth hormone, on muscle tissue development, strength and power

3) Testing hormone levels with athletes and the preference for saliva measures

4) Hormone testing for different sports and considerations for individual athletes

5) Injuries, hormones and menstrual cycle monitoring

6) Considerations for increasing testosterone and growth hormone with training

7) Cortisol and immunity

8) The application of eccentric training besides causing muscle damage in research

PEOPLE MENTIONED

Mike Stone

Steve Fleck

Will Kraemer

Angus Ross

Alex Natera

Cal Dietz

Paul Larsen

Martin Bucheitt