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Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Abstract

Background: Resistance training is a popular exercise modality that aims to increase muscle strength, power, and endurance. Meanwhile, alcohol is a widely used recreational beverage that has been found to negatively affect physical performance and recovery. Thus, understanding the effects of alcohol consumption following resistance training is crucial for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Method: A literature search from 2010 to 2022 was conducted on the PubMed database to identify relevant studies investigating the effects of alcohol consumption after resistance training. The following search terms were used: "alcohol," "resistance training," "physical performance," "recovery," and "metabolism." Only studies published with human participants were included. A total of 12 studies were included in this review. The results were divided into several topics: strength, power, delay-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), immune function, serum creatinine kinase (CK), anabolic markers, and testosterone and cortisol levels. Results: No significant effects on power, DOMS, or CK were found. Diverse results were found regarding immune function and testosterone/cortisol levels, suggesting that the effects of alcohol consumption on resistance training may be individual-specific. For strength and anabolic markers, dose-dependent reductions were observed in several studies, particularly in male participants, indicating a potential sex-related effect. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption may impair strength and anabolic markers in a dose-dependent manner, particularly in male participants. The effects on immune function and testosterone/cortisol levels were individual-specific, with varying results among studies. These findings may have practical implications for athletes and fitness enthusiasts, emphasizing the importance of alcohol moderation to optimize physical performance and recovery.

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