title: Maximal strength and cortisol responses to psyching-up during the squat exercise.
abstract: We studied the effect of psyching-up on one-repetition maximum (1-RM) performance and salivary cortisol responses during the squat exercise. Ten men (age 21.6+/-1.4 years; mean+/-s) and ten women (age 22.4+/-2.8 years) with weight training experience of 4.5+/-2.0 years participated in this study. One-repetition maximum squats were performed on a Smith machine during each of two different intervention conditions that were counterbalanced and consisted of a free choice psych-up and a cognitive distraction. Saliva samples were obtained at the beginning of each test session and immediately after the final 1-RM attempt. No significant difference in 1-RM was identified between psyching-up (104+/-50 kg) and cognitive distraction (106+/-52 kg). Performing a 1-RM in the squat exercise significantly increased salivary cortisol concentrations during both conditions (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in salivary cortisol responses between conditions. These results suggest that psyching-up does not increase 1-RM performance during the squat exercise in strength-trained individuals.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical and Sports Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia. m.mcguigan@ecu.edu.au
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: McGuigan
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ghiagiarelli
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tod
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011336:Probability; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone