The effect of energizing on strength performance
Date
1992
Authors
Mossman, Susan Elaine
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a multi-treatment package of three recommended energizing techniques on the performance of a forearm strength task. The individual techniques were listening to music, taking a warm shower, and engaging in self-talk. Data were collected over a period of eight to ten weeks for seven female field hockey players ranging in age from 19-26 years. A modified version of the simultaneous treatment/continued baseline design in single subject research was implemented. The study consisted of four experimental phases, a baseline phase followed by the intervention phase then a return to baseline and a second intervention phase. During each session of the baseline phases two strength measures were taken with a five minute rest period in between. Subjects engaged in a cognitively distracting task (reading backwards) prior to each strength measure. The intervention phases followed the same format as the baseline phases but with the replacement of an energizing technique instead of reading backwards for the second strength measure. This allowed for the assessment of the effect of energizing on the second strength measure compared to the preceding continued baseline measure. For three of the five subjects who completed the study it was demonstrated that energizing was an effective method for producing consistently higher forearm strength performance over an eight to ten week period of strength training. Two subjects failed to demonstrate experimental effects. Several reasons were suggested to explain these results.
Several post hoc analyses were carried out to try and develop a clearer understanding of the phenomenon of energizing. In the first analysis it was found that strength performance did not appear to vary as a function of the perceived preferences in energizing techniques. The second analysis revealed energizing produced a perception of increased strength regardless of outcome, hence, increased confidence to perform. Finally it was suggested that energizing resulted in emotional, physiological and cognitive change, but caution was expressed in assuming different energizing techniques produced the same energizing response. It was recommended that further research in the area of mental preparation to clearly operationalize concepts into their component elements in order to delineate the specific processes that underlie motor performance.
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UN SDG 4: Quality Education