We examined the effects of ischemia (ISC) alone and with low-intensity exercise (ISC+EX) on growth hormone (GH) and muscle function responses. Nine males (22 ±0.7 yr) completed 3 study days: an ISC day (thigh cuff inflated 5 times-5 min on, 3 min off), an ISC+EX day (knee extension at 20% maximal voluntary contraction [MVC] with ischemia), and a control (CON) day. MVCs and submaximal contraction tasks (15 and 30% MVC) were performed prior to and following the perturbations. Surface electromyogram (EMG) signals were collected from thigh muscles and analyzed for median frequency and root mean square (RMS) alterations. Blood samples were collected every 10 min (190 min total) and analyzed for GH concentrations. Peak GH concentrations and GH area under the curve were highest (p<0.01) on the ISC+EX day (7.5 µg/L, 432 µg/L^.min, respectively) compared to the ISC (0.9 µg/L, 76.4 µg/L^.min) and CON (1.1 µg/L, 83.8 µg/L^.min) days. A greater GH pulse amplitude, mass/pulse, and production rate were also observed on the ISC+EX day (P<0.05). Following the intervention, force production decreased on the ISC and ISC+EX days by 16.1% and 55.8%, respectively, and did not return to baseline values within 5 min of recovery. During the submaximal contractions, median frequency shifted to lower frequencies for most of the muscles examined, and RMS EMG was consistently elevated for ISC+EX day. In conclusion, ischemia coupled with resistance exercise acutely increases in GH levels, and reduces MVC, whereas ISC alone decreases force capacity, without alterations in GH levels.