title: A Systematic Review of the Effect of Cognitive Strategies on Strength Performance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Researchers have tested the beliefs of sportspeople and sports medicine specialists that cognitive strategies influence strength performance. Few investigators have synthesised the literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The specific objectives were to review evidence regarding (a) the cognitive strategy-strength performance relationship; (b) participant skill level as a moderator; and (c) cognitive, motivational, biomechanical/physiological, and emotional mediators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were sourced via electronic databases, reference lists of retrieved articles, and manual searches of relevant journals. Studies had to be randomised or counterbalanced experiments with a control group or condition, repeated measures, and a quality control score above 0.5 (out of 1). Cognitive strategies included goal setting, imagery, self-talk, preparatory arousal, and free choice. Dependent variables included maximal strength, local muscular endurance, or muscular power.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Globally, cognitive strategies were reliability associated with increased strength performance (results ranged from 61 to 65 %). Results were mixed when examining the effects of specific strategies on particular dependent variables, although no intervention had an overall negative influence. Indeterminate relationships emerged regarding hypothesised mediators (except cognitive variables) and participant skill level as a moderator.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although cognitive strategies influence strength performance, there are knowledge gaps regarding specific types of strength, especially muscular power. Cognitive variables, such as concentration, show promise as possible mediators.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Tom Reilly Building, Byrom Street Campus, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK. d.a.tod@ljmu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tod
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGuigan
authors.affiliation: School of Social Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lovell
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D004644:Emotions; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D009042:Motivation; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results