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Related Experiment Videos

"Psyching-up" enhances force production during the bench press exercise.

David A Tod1, K Fiona Iredale, Michael R McGuigan

  • 1Biomechanical Laboratory, Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, New Zealand. dvt@aber.ac.uk

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|August 13, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Psyching-up significantly increases peak force during the bench press exercise. This mental strategy enhanced strength performance compared to cognitive distraction or attention-placebo conditions in experienced lifters.

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Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • Mental strategies can influence physical performance.
  • Understanding the psychological factors affecting force production is crucial for optimizing training.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of a "psyching-up" intervention on maximal force production during the bench press exercise.
  • To compare the effects of psyching-up against cognitive distraction and an attention-placebo.

Main Methods:

  • Twelve men and 8 women with at least one year of strength-training experience participated.
  • Participants performed 5 bench press repetitions using a modified Biodex isokinetic dynamometer.
  • Three counterbalanced interventions were employed: free-choice psych-up, cognitive distraction, and attention-placebo.

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Main Results:

  • Peak force was significantly higher following the psyching-up intervention (764 +/- 269 N.m) compared to both distraction (703 +/- 282 N.m, p = 0.003) and attention-placebo (708 +/- 248 N.m, p = 0.01).
  • Psyching-up resulted in an 11.8% increase in peak force compared to distraction and an 8.1% increase compared to the attention-placebo.
  • Confidence intervals indicated a significant increase in force production with psyching-up.

Conclusions:

  • Psyching-up is an effective strategy for enhancing force production during the bench press.
  • This mental technique may be beneficial for individuals with prior strength-training experience.
  • Further research could explore the underlying mechanisms and applications in different strength-based activities.