Which hormone is crucial for muscle repair and growth following exercise?

Testosterone is a key hormone for muscle repair and growth post-exercise due to its role in promoting protein synthesis and stimulating the development of muscle tissue. It enhances satellite cell proliferation, which is essential for muscle regeneration and recovery after strain or injury. Testosterone also increases the availability of growth factors and the overall anabolic environment in the body, allowing muscles to recover and grow stronger following the stress of exercise.

In contrast, while insulin also plays a role in muscle recovery by facilitating nutrient uptake, it is not specifically responsible for muscle repair and growth at the same level as testosterone. Cortisol, on the other hand, is a stress hormone that can have catabolic effects on muscle tissue if present in high levels for extended periods. Estrogen contributes to overall health and has some effects on muscle, but its primary roles are different from the anabolic functions of testosterone. This makes testosterone the most critical hormone for the specific processes of muscle repair and growth after exercise.