Changes in neuromuscular performance and muscle fiber characteristics of elite power athletes self‐administering androgenic and anabolic steroids

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Abstract
The influence of androgenic-anabolic steroid-induced changes in measures of body composition, muscle fiber characteristics and various aspects of the neuromuscular performance of the leg extensor muscles was investigated in 5 experimental and 6 control power atheletes during a 24-wk programmed strength training followed by an additional 6 wk training without hormone drugs. The mean values of the dosages of self-administration during the 24-wk period were 31.0 .+-. 14.3 mg/day for anabolic steroids (methandienone, stanozolol, nandrolone) and 178.4 .+-. 82.7 mg/wk for testosterone. During the 24-wk hormone period the experimental group gained in fat-free weight (P < 0.01) and in the mean muscle fiber areas (P < 0.01) of the vastus lateralis muscle while the corresponding gains in the control group were minor (NS). The increases of maximal isometric force in the experimental and control groups were 14.7% (P < 0.01) and 6.1 (NS), respectively, and the values obtained in average load-vertical jumping height curves were improved significantly (P < 0.05) only in the experimental group. Increases of 18.2% (P < 0.001) and 12.9% (P < 0.01) took place in the squat lift in the experimental and control groups, resepctively. Both groups demonstrated similar (P < 0.05) improvements in isometric fast force production. During the additional 6 wk programmed training without hormone drugs significant (P < 0.05) increases were observed in the experimental group in addition to maximal isometric force and the squat-lift but also in isometric fast force production, while the corresponding changes in the control group were minor (NS). Strength training in combination with administration of androgenic-anabolic steroids apparently causes improvements in selected neuromuscular parameters. These changes may be greater than those caused by the strength training alone.