Fig. 7.

Effects of distinct aerobic trainings and taper-like periods on markers for muscle catabolism and anabolism in recreational athletes. Mean ± standard deviation values of a cortisol (C) and b testosterone (T) circulating levels and of c free testosterone/cortisol ratio (FT/C) in recreational athletes, before (white bar), post 4 (gray bar, 4-w) or post 8 weeks (black bar, 8-w) of distinct aerobic trainings, as indicated in the legend. Groups: control (without training), undulatory-undulatory (Und-Und), undulatory-linear (Und-Lin), staggered-undulatory (Sta-Und), and staggered-linear (Sta-Lin). Δ, variation; d, effect size; * indicates p ≤ 0.05. Statistical bars indicate comparisons between different groups