title: Effects of mental training on muscular force, hormonal and physiological changes in kickboxers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of mental training on muscular force generation, hormonal alterations, and physiological adaptations in male trained kickboxers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three male trained kickboxers (24.2±4.4 years, 1.75±0.08 m and 70.4±10.2 kg) were randomly assigned to a physical-training group (PG; N.=20), physical and mental training group (PMG: N.=18, mental-training package [MTP] plus physical training] or control group (CG: N.=15). Physical fitness tests: countermovement jump (CMJ), medicine ball throw (MBT), bench press, and half-squat tests; hormones: resting cortisol (C) blood sample, plasma testosterone (T) concentration, and T/C ratio; and physiological variables: resting heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) were assessed before training commenced (baseline) and at week 6 and 12 of training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PMG and PG improved performance in CMJ height (16.2%, 8.4%), MBT (27.9%, 14.2%), bench press (26.5%, 15.7%), half-squat (27.2%, 16.3%), T concentration (35.2%, 22.4%), and T/C ratio (60%, 0%, for PMG only), respectively. In contrast, the C concentration decreased for the PMG (16.3%) and increased for the PG (22%) after 12 weeks. The PMG and PG had significant decrease from pre- to post-training for the resting HR (9.1%, 3%, respectively) and BP (8.5%, 5.3%, respectively). Furthermore, there was a significant increase in MBT (9.3%) after 6 weeks in PMG. Outlined improvements (PMG and PG) were favorable compared to CG (P<0.05) in all instances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The greater muscular force generation in PMG than PG seem to be explained by the reduction of hormonal and physiological stress after 12 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Bizerte, Tunisia - maamer2011@hotmail.fr.|Research Laboratory &quot;Sports performance Optimization&quot;, National Center of Medicine and Science in Sports (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia - maamer2011@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: Maamer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slimani
authors.affiliation: Qatar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, Aspire Zone, ASPETAR, Doha, Qatar.|School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: University of the West of Scotland, Institute of Clinical Exercise and Health Science, Ayr, UK.
authors.forename: Julien S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Unit of Research &quot;Molecular Bases of Human Diseases&quot;, Sfax Medicine College, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elleuch
authors.affiliation: Unit of Research &quot;Molecular Bases of Human Diseases&quot;, Sfax Medicine College, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Fatma M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ayedi
authors.affiliation: Qatar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, Aspire Zone, ASPETAR, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chamari
authors.affiliation: High Institute of Applied Biology of Médenine, Médenine, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Foued
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chéour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001914:Boxing / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D011897:Random Allocation; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone