Independence of physical working capacity from increased glucocorticoid level during short-term exercises.

To investigate the influence of glucocorticoid levels on the physical working capacity, 18 trained and 18 untrained male subjects were examined before and after a short-term graded exercise test. By administration of dexamethasone during 3 days prior to the test or by injecting 25 U of corticotropin 30 min pre-exercise, the blood cortisol response to exercise was altered. It was found that the physical working capacity, as evaluated by PWC170, maximal oxygen deficit, and maximal pedaling rate were not influenced by the glucocorticoid response to the test. It is suggested that the effects of metabolic processes induced by adrenocortical response to exercise are seen only after a lag period.