An investigation into the effect of 'psyching-up' on the maximum strength of the muscles involved in flexing and extending the knee joint

Item

Title
An investigation into the effect of 'psyching-up' on the maximum strength of the muscles involved in flexing and extending the knee joint
Author(s)
Bridges Adam
Abstract
Background Data
Sport psychology is a scientific discipline which is increasingly integrated into the training regimes for athletes of differening standards and categories. A number of studies have demonstrated that a variety of sport psychology techniques are likely to improve the performance of athletes, and this study aimed to determine whether the psyching up technique, 'preparatory arousal', would improve maximum strength of knee flexion and extension.The study also investigated whether practice improved the ability for individuals to perform the psyching up technique, 'preparatory arousal'.
Setting
Exercise Physiology Laboratory, British College of Osteopathic Medicine, London NW3.
Subjects
The subject group consisted of 30 Osteopathic College Students, 15 male and 15 female. All subjects that took part in the investigation had no pre-existing or existing injury or pathology, and none were actively taking part in regular exercise. The age range was from 19 to 35 years (mean = 24.8 yrs). The subjects were randomly assigned into three groups: Control Group, Intervention Group 1 and Intervention Group 2.
Method
Using the Cybex Norm Dynamometer, weekly measurements of maximum knee flexion and extension were taken and recorded from the subjects in the Control Group. The investigation was carried out over a three week period and no Preparatory Arousal Technique was employed during this time.
Using the Cybex Norm Dynamometer, weekly measurements of maximum knee flexion and extension were taken and recorded from the subjects in the Intervention Group 1. The investigation was carried out over a three week period- the first week no preparatory arousal technique was used, but for weeks 2 and 3 the preparatory arousal technique was employed prior to the measurements, but with no practising of the technique during weeks 2 and 3.
Using the Cybex Norm Dynamometer, weekly measurements of maximum knee flexion and extension were taken and recorded from the subjects in the Intervention Group 2. The investigation was carried out over a three week period- the first week no preparatory arousal technique was used, but for weeks 2 and 3 the preparatory arousal technique was practiced during weeks 2 and 3 and employed prior to measurements.
The data was analysed using two-tailed paired t-tests, two-tailed unpaired t-tests and F-tests.
Results
The results revealed that there was a significant increase (p>0.05) from weeks 1 to 3 in the maximum peak torque (Nm) of knee flexion and extension in Intervention Groups 1 and 2, however, there was no significant difference (p<0.05) between the results from weeks 1 to 3 in the Control Group.
The results also showed that there was no significant improvement (p>0.05) between Intervention Group 1, who did not practice the preparatory arousal technique, and Intervention Group 2, who did practice the technique.
Conclusion
The results from this study demonstrate that the psyching up technique, preparatory arousal, does significantly increase the maximum strength of knee flexion and extension. However, the study also shows that the practising of the psyching up technique, preparatory arosusal, does not improve an individual's ability to perform this technique.
presented at
British College of Osteopathic Medicine
Date Accepted
0
Date Submitted
1.1.1970 00:00:00
Type
osteo_thesis
Language
English
Submitted by:
62
Pub-Identifier
13660
Inst-Identifier
1076
Recommended
0
Item sets
Thesis

Bridges Adam, “An investigation into the effect of 'psyching-up' on the maximum strength of the muscles involved in flexing and extending the knee joint”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 20, 2024, https://www.osteopathic-research.com/s/orw/item/1097