The human individual responds as an entire organism to the effect of endurance training. Exercise physiologists have long documented cardiovascular, musculo-skeletal and metabolic effects of conditioning. Only recently are we beginning to understand that there are hormonal and hypothalamic changes which occur with conditioning. These hormonal changes probably serve similar adaptive functions as do the other conditioning responses. Careful controlled studies need to be performed of individuals prior to, early in conditioning, and following extended periods of conditioning looking at hypothalamic function, body morphometric characteristics, psychiatric and psychological testing and menstrual cycle data in order to better understand hormonal conditioning. When hormone changes occurring with endurance training are approached in this light, the complex inter-related alterations will begin to form a pattern. Further studies are needed to document the dynamic and reversible nature of these hormonal adaptations.
Prior JC endurance training hormonal conditioning, exercise endocrine adaptation hypothalamic changes, endurance training menstrual cycle hormonal effects, conditioning hormonal hypothalamic adaptations athletes, Prior JC exercise hormonal menstrual changes review, endurance exercise cardiovascular metabolic endocrine adaptation, hypothalamic function endurance training women, exercise physiology hormonal conditioning preliminary review, athletic training reproductive endocrine adaptation, body composition exercise hormone changes conditioning
DOI 10.5040/9781718225053.ch-006 10.5040/9781718225053.ch-006 Prior et al. 1982, Prior 1982
Cite this article
Prior, J. C. (1982). Endocrine \"conditioning\" with endurance training a preliminary review. Canadian journal of applied sport sciences. Journal canadien des sciences appliquees au sport, 7(3), 148-156.
Prior JC. Endocrine \"conditioning\" with endurance training a preliminary review. Can J Appl Sport Sci. 1982;7(3):148-156.
Prior, Jerilynn C. "Endocrine \"conditioning\" with endurance training a preliminary review." Canadian journal of applied sport sciences. Journal canadien des sciences appliquees au sport, vol. 7, no. 3, 1982, pp. 148-156.
Brandao BM et al., 2025·Hormones and Behavior·
Open Access
Hormonal contraceptives (HCs) are widely used, yet their effects on emotional and cognitive processes remain poorly understood. This study examined how HC use may influence emotional reactivity, emotion regulation, and emotional memory. Female participants (N = 179), either using HCs (N = 87) or naturally cycling (NC; N = 92), were randomly assigned to one of three groups: no emotion regulation (control), distancing and immersion, or reinterpretation and immersion. The emotion regulation groups completed emotion regulation training in which they viewed emotional images while applying different emotion regulation strategies, followed by a surprise memory test. Overall, HC users showed greater emotional reactivity to emotional images compared to NC participants. Both HC and NC groups successfully applied emotion regulation strategies as measured by changes in emotional affect; however, distancing led to a greater reduction in negative emotions compared to reinterpretation, particularly among HC users. Both HC and NC groups showed better memory for positive images after applying immersion. For negative images, HC users showed reduced memory performance when applying either distancing or reinterpretation, an effect not observed in NC participants. These findings suggest that HC use may influence specific aspects of emotional processing and memory, highlighting the need for more nuanced research on the cognitive and emotional effects of hormonal contraceptives.
Redondo‐Delgado P et al., 2025·Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand·
Open Access
Physical activity is known to improve physical and psychological outcomes in pregnant women. While aerobic exercise is typically emphasized in physical activity guidelines for pregnant women, emerging research suggests that strength training may offer unique benefits beyond those provided by aerobic exercise alone. This systematic review aimed to systematically explore the effects and characteristics of strength training interventions on the health‐related quality of life of pregnant women, with the goal of informing more comprehensive and specific exercise guidelines. Material and A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO Host databases without time restrictions, following PRISMA guidelines (Prospero Id: CRD42024511477). Nine randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria, involving a total of 1581 participants. The studies reviewed demonstrated that strength training during pregnancy can mitigate excessive weight gain, alleviate low back and sciatic pain, enhance mood, and improve various aspects of health‐related quality of life. These aspects include physical activity levels, muscular strength, flexibility, sleep quality, energy expenditure, and psychological well‐being. Despite these promising findings, this review highlights the need for standardized methodologies and detailed reporting in future research. Incorporating strength training into general exercise recommendations for pregnant women has the potential to optimize maternal health outcomes such as muscle strength, weight gain, physical activity levels, low back pain, pelvic pain, fatigue, anxiety, energy levels, vitality, sleep duration, and health status.
Guidelines by Clinical Area · Obstetric Guidelines
Davenport MH et al., 2025·British journal of sports medicine
This consensus aims to provide guidance for postpartum women and people, healthcare providers and exercise professionals on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep throughout the first year postpartum. The development of this guideline followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument. The Guideline Consensus Panel consisted of representatives from key professional groups, researchers and methodological experts. Literature was retrieved through searches of 12 online databases, and articles on maternal physical activity, sedentary behaviour or sleep in the first year after childbirth were eligible for inclusion if they reported on any of 21 maternal or infant health outcomes, which were prioritised considering the preferences and values of postpartum individuals. There was no restriction on language, and all study designs were eligible except for case studies. The certainty of evidence was rated using GRADE. This evidence review produced seven systematic reviews, which informed this consensus statement. A Delphi process was conducted to identify relative contraindications to postpartum moderate-intensity to vigorous-intensity physical activity, which informed the development of the Get Active Questionnaire for Postpartum. Evidence to decision tables were developed, and feedback on the recommendations was solicited from end users (healthcare providers, exercise professionals, researchers, policy organisations and postpartum women and people). Adhering to these consensus recommendations for postpartum women and people is likely to result in large improvements in psychological well-being, as well as pelvic, musculoskeletal and cardiometabolic health, and reduced fatigue, while not experiencing adverse events (moderate certainty evidence). Most end users indicated that following these recommendations would be feasible, acceptable and equitable, and likely to require minimal resources from individual and health systems perspectives. PROSPERO registration number CRD42022359282.
Lara HE et al., 2025·Frontiers in endocrinology·
Open Access
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.