MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

Karl Stefanovic And Cody Simpson Battle It Out In The Gym

Karl Stefanovic And Cody Simpson Battle It Out In The Gym

5 Reasons Why We’re Obsessed With Barry’s

5 Reasons Why We’re Obsessed With Barry’s

8 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Workout (Beyond the Gym)

8 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Workout (Beyond the Gym)

Train Your Whole Body With This Single DIY Piece Of Equipment

Train Your Whole Body With This Single DIY Piece Of Equipment

{headline}

{headline}

Calum Von Moger's 5 Tips For Beginner Bodybuilders

Calum Von Moger's 5 Tips For Beginner Bodybuilders

The Session Australia's Top Trainers Use To Train Themselves

The Session Australia's Top Trainers Use To Train Themselves

Arnie Is Back Pumping Iron, Only 6 Months Post-Surgery

Arnie Is Back Pumping Iron, Only 6 Months Post-Surgery

{headline}

{headline}

The Workout Behind Osher Günsberg's Transformation

The Workout Behind Osher Günsberg's Transformation

Ultimate Treadmill Workout: Lose Belly Fat And Build Muscle

Ultimate Treadmill Workout: Lose Belly Fat And Build Muscle

The Weird Reason Why Listening to 'Despacito' Can Boost Your Workout

The Weird Reason Why Listening to 'Despacito' Can Boost Your Workout

5 Things Every Guy At Your Gym Is Doing Wrong

5 Things Every Guy At Your Gym Is Doing Wrong

23 Battle Rope Moves That Blast Fat

23 Battle Rope Moves That Blast Fat

5 Things Your Gym Must Have

5 Things Your Gym Must Have

An Open Letter to the Newbies at the Gym This January

An Open Letter to the Newbies at the Gym This January

  1. Home
  2. Fitness

Swearing At The Gym Makes You F*cking Stronger, Apparently

Drop the F bomb mid-workout to max your muscles, because science said so - by Annie Hayes
  • 10 Apr 2018
Swearing At The Gym Makes You F*cking Stronger, Apparently
Getty Images

We already know that grunting can help you lift more, but what about letting out a few choice four-letter words every now and again?

If you often find yourself biting your tongue through your third set of squats, you might be doing yourself a disservice – swearing can actually heighten physical performance, strength and power during your workouts, a new study has revealed.

Sure, mum won't like it. But she’s not attempting to crush her previous 1RM, is she? The truth is, deploying your favourite curse word in this crucial moment could crank up your performance.

So far, science has already confirmed that swearing anaesthetises pain, increases emotional tolerance and activates parts of your brain that no other words engage. So it makes sense to supe-up your squats by turning the gym blue, right? Here's how it works.

The research, published in the Journal of Psychology of Sports and Exercise, challenged 81 athletes to complete either a 30-second high-resistance stationary bike test or a 20-second handgrip strength test.

Some were asked to vocalise a swear word of their choice (one they’d utter if they banged their head) every three seconds, while the remainder were instructed to keep their language family-friendly and repeat ‘neutral’ words.

The bad-mouthed cyclists saw a 4.6 per cent increase in power, equivalent to around 24 watts, compared to their PG-rated peers. Swearing also helped the athletes perform even better in the handgrip test, with an 8.2 percent increase in strength, equating to 2.1 kilograms.

So, what gives? Since there were no changes to the athletes heart rates, blood pressure and other automatic responses from their nervous system, the research rules out links to the ‘fight or flight’ effect. One theory is that swearing causes a distraction in the brain, transferring focus away from the difficulty of, say, that final power clean.

Be warned, previous studies say the emotional effect of swearing wears off through overuse, and we can’t see why that would be any different in the squat rack. But next time you’re pushing through the pain barrier, harness the power of the profanity and let results speak for themselves.

This article originally appeared on Men's Health UK.

  • News
  • Fitness
  • Exercise
  • Strength Training
  • Gym Workouts

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

Karl Stefanovic And Cody Simpson Battle It Out In The Gym

Karl Stefanovic And Cody Simpson Battle It Out In The Gym

5 Reasons Why We’re Obsessed With Barry’s

5 Reasons Why We’re Obsessed With Barry’s

8 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Workout (Beyond the Gym)

8 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Workout (Beyond the Gym)

Train Your Whole Body With This Single DIY Piece Of Equipment

Train Your Whole Body With This Single DIY Piece Of Equipment

{headline}

{headline}

Calum Von Moger's 5 Tips For Beginner Bodybuilders

Calum Von Moger's 5 Tips For Beginner Bodybuilders

The Session Australia's Top Trainers Use To Train Themselves

The Session Australia's Top Trainers Use To Train Themselves

Arnie Is Back Pumping Iron, Only 6 Months Post-Surgery

Arnie Is Back Pumping Iron, Only 6 Months Post-Surgery

{headline}

{headline}

The Workout Behind Osher Günsberg's Transformation

The Workout Behind Osher Günsberg's Transformation

Ultimate Treadmill Workout: Lose Belly Fat And Build Muscle

Ultimate Treadmill Workout: Lose Belly Fat And Build Muscle

The Weird Reason Why Listening to 'Despacito' Can Boost Your Workout

The Weird Reason Why Listening to 'Despacito' Can Boost Your Workout

5 Things Every Guy At Your Gym Is Doing Wrong

5 Things Every Guy At Your Gym Is Doing Wrong

23 Battle Rope Moves That Blast Fat

23 Battle Rope Moves That Blast Fat

5 Things Your Gym Must Have

5 Things Your Gym Must Have

An Open Letter to the Newbies at the Gym This January

An Open Letter to the Newbies at the Gym This January

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Chris Hemsworth Hugo Boss
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Chris Hemsworth Hugo Boss
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now