Press release

4 April 2006

MIND OVER MATTER- thinking about your muscles can increase strength

A new study carried out by a research team at the University of Hull, has been hailed as a breakthrough in sports research. The findings have revealed that thinking about your muscles during exercise can boost muscle activity, benefiting exercisers and potentially aiding recovery after injury.

The research, led by Dr. David Marchant of the Department of Psychology in collaboration with the Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, consisted of a study which monitored 29 people performing bicep curls using a weights machine that measured how much their biceps were working.

Participants had to produce as much force as possible under three conditions - (1) thinking about their muscles and how they were moving, (2) thinking about the dumbbell they were lifting and (3) thinking about whatever they wanted.

The study showed that there was a significantly increased muscle activity when people thought about their arm muscles and how they moved compared to when they just though about the dumbbell they were lifting.

Dr. David Marchant, Department of Psychology at the University of Hull, commented: "Sports coaches and trainers would benefit from tailoring their instructions depending on what they want performers to achieve."

"When they want people to improve their performance, thinking about outcomes such as targets or goals is best. However, when they want athletes to exercise their muscles or recover from injury, thinking about the movement of their muscles during weights exercises is helpful."

Until now, there has been much confusion about what to think about whilst exercising to ensure positive results. Studies have shown that thinking about your movements and muscles can make performing certain skills, such as throwing a ball, more difficult and less successful.

This research shows that thinking about your muscles during weights exercises helps to activate the muscles, which may help develop strength over time.