1
|
Nolan D, Horgan P, MacNamara A, Egan B. "Male athletes play well to feel good, and female athletes feel good to play well": Attitudes, beliefs, and practices pertaining to perceived sex-related differences in communication and interpersonal approach of strength and conditioning coaches in international women's rugby union. J Sports Sci 2024:1-10. [PMID: 39118398 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2388992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Effective communication and rapport building with athletes are key tenets of coaching. As the majority of empirical evidence to date has adopted an androcentric view of strength and conditioning, a potential knowledge gap exists regarding sex-related differences in physical preparation and coaching approaches. Therefore, this study explored the attitudes, beliefs and practices of strength and conditioning coaches (n = 8; M/F, 6/2) in elite level (international) women's rugby union using semi-structured interviews (mean ±standard deviation duration 59 ± 15 min). The interviews explored differences in coaching practices for elite female rugby players compared to males, with a specific focus on the interpersonal aspects of the athlete-coach relationship. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to generate a rich qualitative dataset. The analysis resulted in the identification of higher order themes: athlete engagement, and interpersonal approach. The coaches in this study consistently perceived important differences between male and female players in factors related to engagement and interpersonal approach. Coaches adopted differing coaching practices for male and female athletes. This study provides important contextual evidence for the understanding of differences in the interpersonal relationships of female rugby players compared to male athletes from the perspective of elite-level strength coaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Nolan
- School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Aine MacNamara
- School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Brendan Egan
- School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sakalidis KE, Menting SGP, Hettinga FJ. Influence of intellectual disability on exercise regulation: exploring verbal, auditory and visual guidance to contribute to promote inclusive exercise environments. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2024; 10:e001765. [PMID: 38196941 PMCID: PMC10773414 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective The role of intellectual disability (ID) in exercise regulation has remained largely unexplored, yet recent studies have indicated cognitive-related impaired pacing skills in people with ID. In a well-controlled laboratory environment, this study aims to (1) establish the role of ID in pacing and explore the ability of people with and without ID to maintain a steady pace; (2) to investigate if verbal feedback and/or (3) the presence of a pacer can improve the ability of people with ID to maintain a preplanned submaximal velocity. Methods Participants with (n=10) and without ID (n=10) were recruited and performed 7 min submaximal trials on a cycle ergometer (Velotron). Participants with ID also performed a cycling trial with a pacer (virtual avatar). Results The non-parametric tests for repeated measures data (p≤0.05) showed that (1) people with ID deviated more from the targeted pace compared with people without ID, (2) the verbal feedback did not influence their ability to keep a steady pace and (3) they deviated less from the targeted pace when a visual pacer was introduced. Conclusion The results revealed the difficulties of people with ID in planning and monitoring their exercise and the difficulties in appropriately responding to auditory and verbal feedback. Coaches and stakeholders who want to offer inclusive exercise pathways should consider that people with ID perform and pace themselves better when supported by intuitive, visual and personally meaningful stimuli such as other cyclists (avatars).
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang YB, Guo L, Fan JY, Mao ZX. Expectations Come True: The Placebo Effect of Exercise on Affective Responses. RESEARCH QUARTERLY FOR EXERCISE AND SPORT 2023; 94:1153-1161. [PMID: 36121715 DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2022.2121372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Objective: This study investigated the placebo and nocebo effects of habitual and induced expectations. Methods: In Study 1, 95 participants (Mage = 19.65 ± 2.21 years, MBMI = 21.94 ± 2.55) were grouped according to habitual expectations (positive, neutral, or negative) and completed a 30-min moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, and their affective response, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured before, during, and after the exercise. In Study 2, the participants from Study 1 were grouped according to induced expectations (control, positive, or negative) and completed a 30-min moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Affective response, RPE, and HRV were measured before, during, and after exercise. Results: In Study 1, positive habitual expectations increased affective response during and after exercise [F(2, 92) = 2.959, p = .057, ηp2 = .060], and negative habitual expectations increased RPE during exercise [F(2, 92) = 5.174, p = .007, ηp2 = .101]. In Study 2, positive induced expectation increased affective response during [F(2, 86) = 5.492, p = .006, ηp2 = .113] and after exercise [F(2, 86) = 6.096, p = .003, ηp2 = .124] and was not affected by habitual expectation. Conclusion: The affective response during and after exercise is influenced by habitual and induced expectations. Positive expectations enhance affective benefits, while negative expectations reduce affective benefits.
Collapse
|
4
|
Frisaldi E, Shaibani A, Benedetti F, Pagnini F. Placebo and nocebo effects and mechanisms associated with pharmacological interventions: an umbrella review. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e077243. [PMID: 37848293 PMCID: PMC10582987 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This review aimed to summarise the existing knowledge about placebo and nocebo effects associated with pharmacological interventions and their mechanisms. DESIGN Umbrella review, adopting the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 tool for critical appraisal. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial were searched in September 2022, without any time restriction, for systematic reviews, narrative reviews, original articles. Results were summarised through narrative synthesis, tables, 95% CI. OUTCOME MEASURES Mechanisms underlying placebo/nocebo effects and/or their effect sizes. RESULTS The databases search identified 372 studies, for a total of 158 312 participants, comprising 41 systematic reviews, 312 narrative reviews and 19 original articles. Seventy-three per cent of the examined systematic reviews were of high quality.Our findings revealed that mechanisms underlying placebo and/or nocebo effects have been characterised, at least in part, for: pain, non-noxious somatic sensation, Parkinson's disease, migraine, sleep disorders, intellectual disability, depression, anxiety, dementia, addiction, gynaecological disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, immune and endocrine systems, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, gastrointestinal disorders, skin diseases, influenza and related vaccines, oncology, obesity, physical and cognitive performance. Their magnitude ranged from 0.08 to 2.01 (95% CI 0.37 to 0.89) for placebo effects and from 0.32 to 0.90 (95% CI 0.24 to 1.00) for nocebo effects. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a valuable tool for clinicians and researchers, identifying both results ready for clinical practice and gaps to address in the near future. FUNDING Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy with the 'Finanziamento Ponte 2022' grant. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42023392281.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Frisaldi
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Aziz Shaibani
- Muscle and Nerve Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Fabrizio Benedetti
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco Pagnini
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Edwards AM, Hettinga FJ. Virtual reality exercise platforms and the possibility for novel, engaging research in sport, exercise and health. PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT & HEALTH 2023; 11:100253. [PMID: 37251496 PMCID: PMC10209421 DOI: 10.1016/j.peh.2023.100253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Edwards
- School of Psychology & Life Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Imaginary pills and open-label placebos can reduce test anxiety by means of placebo mechanisms. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2624. [PMID: 36788309 PMCID: PMC9926426 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29624-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Placebos have been shown to be beneficial for various conditions even if administered with full transparency. Hence, so-called open-label placebos (OLPs) offer a new way to harness placebo effects ethically. To take this concept one step further, this study aimed at evaluating placebo effects without the use of a physical placebo, i.e., by imagining taking a pill. Healthy students (N = 173) with self-reported test anxiety were either randomized to an imaginary pill (IP; n = 55), an OLP (n = 59) or a control group (CG; n = 59). Both intervention groups were instructed to take two pills daily for three weeks. Primary outcome was test anxiety, secondary outcomes were sleep quality, general well-being and test performance. Groups test anxiety differed at study-endpoint, F(2,169) = 11.50, p < .001. Test anxiety was lower in the intervention groups compared to the CG, t(169) = - 4.44, p < .001, d = - 0.71. The interventions did not differ significantly, i.e., both were similarly efficacious, t(169) = 0.61, p = .540, d = 0.11. The interaction between group and time in explaining test anxiety was significant, F(5,407.93) = 6.13, p < .001. OLPs and IPs reduced test anxiety in healthy participants compared to the CG. This finding opens the door for a novel and ethical method to harness placebo effects.
Collapse
|
7
|
Sakalidis KE, Menting SGP, Hettinga FJ. The Role of Cognition and Social Factors in Competition: How Do People with Intellectual Disabilities Respond to Opponents? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2670. [PMID: 36768036 PMCID: PMC9914994 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Exploring pacing behaviour in people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in competition will help to better understand the impact of cognition and social environment in sports, providing support for the shaping of proper inclusive sports environments. The present experimental study aimed to (1) compare the pacing behaviour and performance between people with and without ID who are inexperienced in cycling and (2) investigate how these are influenced by an opponent. Participants with (n = 8) and without ID (n = 10) performed two randomised 4-km maximal cycling trials, alone and against an opponent. Non-parametric tests for repeated measures data (p ≤ 0.05) revealed that people with ID cycled slower, but with higher inter-individual variation (both conditions) and paced themselves differently compared to people without ID when competing against an opponent. In contrast to the previous literature in athletes without ID, the presence of a faster opponent resulted in a decrease in the performance in the participants with ID. The negative influence of the opponent highlights the potential difficulties people with ID experience to adequately use their opponents to enhance their self-regulatory processes and optimize their pacing and performance in maximal exercise trials. Coaches who want to offer inclusive sports environments for people with ID could take these findings into consideration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kandianos Emmanouil Sakalidis
- Department of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Stein Gerrit Paul Menting
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Florentina Johanna Hettinga
- Department of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Competition Between Desired Competitive Result, Tolerable Homeostatic Disturbance, and Psychophysiological Interpretation Determines Pacing Strategy. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2023; 18:335-346. [PMID: 36848906 DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2022-0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Scientific interest in pacing goes back >100 years. Contemporary interest, both as a feature of athletic competition and as a window into understanding fatigue, goes back >30 years. Pacing represents the pattern of energy use designed to produce a competitive result while managing fatigue of different origins. Pacing has been studied both against the clock and during head-to-head competition. Several models have been used to explain pacing, including the teleoanticipation model, the central governor model, the anticipatory-feedback-rating of perceived exertion model, the concept of a learned template, the affordance concept, the integrative governor theory, and as an explanation for "falling behind." Early studies, mostly using time-trial exercise, focused on the need to manage homeostatic disturbance. More recent studies, based on head-to-head competition, have focused on an improved understanding of how psychophysiology, beyond the gestalt concept of rating of perceived exertion, can be understood as a mediator of pacing and as an explanation for falling behind. More recent approaches to pacing have focused on the elements of decision making during sport and have expanded the role of psychophysiological responses including sensory-discriminatory, affective-motivational, and cognitive-evaluative dimensions. These approaches have expanded the understanding of variations in pacing, particularly during head-to-head competition.
Collapse
|
9
|
Sakalidis KE, Menting SGP, Elferink-Gemser MT, Hettinga FJ. The Role of the Social Environment in Pacing and Sports Performance: A Narrative Review from a Self-Regulatory Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16131. [PMID: 36498205 PMCID: PMC9739682 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
As proposed by Triplett in 1898 and evidenced by a recent series of lab and field studies, racing against other competitors consistently results in increased performance compared to when racing alone. To explain this phenomenon, we will explore the process of self-regulation, a process relevant to pacing, which is linked to athletes' emotions and facilitates their sports performance optimization. We will apply the cyclical model of Self-regulation of Learning to pacing and sports performance settings and explore the role of the social environment (in particular, opponents but also coaches) in each phase of the self-regulatory model. It seems that the social environment could be considered as a significant self-regulatory and sports performance facilitator. More specifically, athletes can focus on their social environment (opponents) when they have to set goals and select appropriate strategies to achieve them (forethought phase), monitor and manage their actions and their emotions (performance phase), and make self-judgements and choose self-reactions (self-reflection). Moreover, the social environment (coaches) can observe, step in, and facilitate these intricate processes. These findings could guide athletes and their coaches towards more effective pacing acquisition and development, and better sports performance, which could be of particular relevance for youth athletes or athletes with disabilities impacting on their self-regulatory skills.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kandianos Emmanouil Sakalidis
- Department of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumberland Building, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Stein Gerrit Paul Menting
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marije Titia Elferink-Gemser
- Department of Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Florentina Johanna Hettinga
- Department of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumberland Building, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Brietzke C, Cesario JCS, Hettinga FJ, Pires FO. The reward for placebos: mechanisms underpinning placebo-induced effects on motor performance. Eur J Appl Physiol 2022; 122:2321-2329. [PMID: 36006479 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-022-05029-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Different from the most popular thinking, the placebo effect is not a purely psychological phenomenon. A body of knowledge from multidisciplinary fields has shown that the expectation of a potential benefit when receiving a treatment induces a cascade of neurochemical-electrophysiological alterations in brain reward areas, including motor-related ones. Alterations in the dopamine, opioid, and glutamate metabolism are the neural representation converting reward-derived declarative forms into an attractive and wanted behavior, thereby changing the activation in reward subcortical and cortical structures involved in motor planning, motor execution, and emotional-cognitive attributes of decision-making. We propose that the expectation of receiving a treatment that is beneficial to motor performance triggers a cascade of activations in brain reward areas that travels from motor planning and motor command areas, passing through corticospinal pathways until driving the skeletal muscles, therefore facilitating the motor performance. Although alternative explanations cannot be totally ruled out, this mechanistic route is robust in explaining the results of placebo-induced effects on motor performance and could lead to novel insights and applications in the exercise sciences. Factors such as sex differences in reward-related mechanisms and aversion-induced nocebo effects should also be addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cayque Brietzke
- Exercise Psychophysiology Research Group, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Human Movement Science and Rehabilitation Program, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
| | - Julio Cesar Silva Cesario
- Exercise Psychophysiology Research Group, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Flavio Oliveira Pires
- Exercise Psychophysiology Research Group, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. .,Human Movement Science and Rehabilitation Program, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, Brazil. .,Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Qiu Y, Mao Z, Yun D. Can the add-on placebo effect augment the physical and mental health outcomes of exercise? A meta-analysis. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2021; 14:483-498. [PMID: 34749434 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to clarify whether the add-on placebo effect can augment the psychological and physiological benefits of exercise. The inclusion criteria were met by 18 studies with 1,221 participants. The add-on placebo effects promoted a more positive affect (g = 0.430), greater self-esteem (g = 0.454), improved cardiorespiratory fitness (g = 0.273), and decreased perceived exertion (g = 0.476) and blood pressure (g = 0.268). Improved affect benefits were moderated by placebo type (elaboration > external medium), self-selected exercise intensity (no > yes), and exercise type (running > nonspecific). The results support the proposal that the add-on placebo effect can provide significant positive benefits for exercisers, particularly in terms of psychological responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Qiu
- School of Psychology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhixiong Mao
- School of Psychology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongting Yun
- School of Psychology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Marticorena FM, Carvalho A, Oliveira LFDE, Dolan E, Gualano B, Swinton P, Saunders B. Nonplacebo Controls to Determine the Magnitude of Ergogenic Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2021; 53:1766-1777. [PMID: 33587551 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000002635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Placebos are used as a control treatment that is meant to be indistinguishable from the active intervention. However, where substantive placebo effects may occur, studies that do not include a nonplacebo control arm may underestimate the overall effect of the intervention (active plus placebo components). This study aimed to determine the relative magnitude of the placebo effect associated with nutritional supplements (caffeine and extracellular buffers) by meta-analyzing data from studies containing both placebo and nonplacebo control sessions. METHODS Bayesian multilevel meta-analysis models were used to estimate pooled effects and express the placebo effect as a percentage of the overall intervention effect. RESULTS Thirty-four studies were included, with the median pooled effect size (ES0.5) indicating a very small (ES0.5 = 0.09 (95% credible interval (CrI), 0.01-0.17)) improvement in the performance of placebo compared with control. There was no moderating effect of exercise type (capacity or performance), exercise duration, or training status. The comparison between active intervention and control indicated a small to medium effect (ES0.5 = 0.37 (95% CrI, 0.20-0.56)). Expressed in relative terms, the placebo effect was equivalent to 25% (75% CrI, 16%-35%) and 59% (75% CrI, 34%-94%) of the total intervention effect for buffers and caffeine. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate a very small but potentially important placebo effect with nutritional supplementation studies. A substantive proportion of supplement effects may be due to placebo effects, with the relative proportion influenced by the magnitude of the overall ergogenic effect. Where feasible, intervention studies should use nonplacebo control-arm comparators to identify the proportion of the effect estimated to come from placebo effects and avoid underestimating the overall benefits that the physiological plus psychobiological aspects associated with an intervention provide in the real world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Miguel Marticorena
- Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport, Rheumatology Division, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo (University of São Paulo), São Paulo, BRAZIL
| | - Arthur Carvalho
- Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport, Rheumatology Division, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo (University of São Paulo), São Paulo, BRAZIL
| | - Luana Farias DE Oliveira
- Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport, Rheumatology Division, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo (University of São Paulo), São Paulo, BRAZIL
| | - Eimear Dolan
- Applied Physiology and Nutrition Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport, Rheumatology Division, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo (University of São Paulo), São Paulo, BRAZIL
| | | | - Paul Swinton
- School of Health Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UNITED KINGDOM
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Davis AJ, Crittenden B, Cohen E. Effects of social support on performance outputs and perceived difficulty during physical exercise. Physiol Behav 2021; 239:113490. [PMID: 34139269 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Perceptions of social support influence adaptive self-regulatory processes that maintain health, produce feelings, and motivate behavior. Although associations between sociality and health are increasingly well-understood, there is little systematic research into the effects of social support on fatigue, physical discomfort, exertion, and output regulation in physical activity. We conducted an experimental study to investigate the effect of social support on performance and perceived difficulty in a handgrip force task while controlling for audience and reputational factors. Effects were compared with those of another established psychogenic performance enhancer (a placebo ergogenic supplement). During handgrip trials over varying levels of objective difficulty, participants viewed photographs of a support figure or stranger while in a placebo or control condition. Results revealed a significant main effect of the social support cue on handgrip performance outputs, and a significant interaction with objective trial difficulty - relative to the stranger cue, the support-figure cue significantly increased handgrip performance outputs and the effect was larger in more objectively difficult trials. Moreover, despite producing greater handgrip outputs, participants perceived trials to be significantly less difficult in the social support condition. Though there was a non-significant main effect of placebo (vs. control) on performance outputs, participants perceived trials in the placebo condition to be significantly less difficult. The research contributes new evidence and theory on the role of perceived social support - an important (energetic) resource - in human performance and motivates further enquiry into how cues to support alter perceived effort and performance outputs in strenuous physical challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arran J Davis
- Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford, 64 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6PN, United Kingdom.
| | - Ben Crittenden
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Level 6, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Cohen
- Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford, 64 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6PN, United Kingdom; Wadham College, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PN, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
de Souza HLR, Arriel RA, Mota GR, Hohl R, Marocolo M. Does ischemic preconditioning really improve performance or it is just a placebo effect? PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250572. [PMID: 33939730 PMCID: PMC8092792 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined the effects of a simultaneous ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and SHAM intervention to reduce the placebo effect due to a priori expectation on the performance of knee extension resistance exercise. Nine moderately trained men were tested in three different occasions. Following the baseline tests, subjects performed a first set of leg extension tests after the IPC (3 X 5 min 50 mmHg above systolic blood pressure) on right thigh and the SHAM (same as IPC, but 20 mmHg) on left thigh. After 48 hours, the subjects performed another set of tests with the opposite applications. Number of repetitions, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and perceptual indicators were analyzed. After IPC and SHAM intervention performed at the same time, similar results were observed for the number of repetitions, with no significant differences between conditions (baseline x IPC x SHAM) for either left (p = 0.274) or right thigh (p = 0.242). The fatigue index and volume load did not show significant effect size after IPC and SHAM maneuvers. In contrast, significant reduction on left tight MVIC was observed (p = 0.001) in SHAM and IPC compared to baseline, but not for right thigh (p = 0.106). Results from the current study may indicate that applying IPC prior to a set of leg extension does not result in ergogenic effects. The placebo effect seems to be related to this technique and its dissociation seems unlikely, therefore including a SHAM or placebo group in IPC studies is strongly recommended.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiago L. R. de Souza
- Physiology and Human Performance Research Group, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rhaí A. Arriel
- Physiology and Human Performance Research Group, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Gustavo R. Mota
- Exercise Science, Health and Human Performance Research Group, Department of Sport Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Hohl
- Physiology and Human Performance Research Group, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Moacir Marocolo
- Physiology and Human Performance Research Group, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Blumenstein B, Abrahamsen FE, Losnegard T. Placebo and nocebo in sports: Potential effects of hypothetical differences in roll resistance on roller ski performance. TRANSLATIONAL SPORTS MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/tsm2.230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bojan Blumenstein
- Department of Sport and Social Sciences Norwegian School of Sports Sciences Oslo Norway
| | | | - Thomas Losnegard
- Department of Physical Performance Norwegian School of Sports Sciences Oslo Norway
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Beedie C, Benedetti F, Barbiani D, Camerone E, Lindheimer J, Roelands B. Incorporating methods and findings from neuroscience to better understand placebo and nocebo effects in sport. Eur J Sport Sci 2019; 20:313-325. [PMID: 31573836 PMCID: PMC10181912 DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2019.1675765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Placebo and nocebo effects are a factor in sports performance. However, the majority of published studies in sport science are descriptive and speculative regarding mechanisms. It is therefore not unreasonable for the sceptic to argue that placebo and nocebo effects in sport are illusory, and might be better explained by variations in phenomena such as motivation. It is likely that, in sport at least, placebo and nocebo effects will remain in this empirical grey area until researchers provide stronger mechanistic evidence. Recent research in neuroscience has identified a number of consistent, discrete and interacting neurobiological and physiological pathways associated with placebo and nocebo effects, with many studies reporting data of potential interest to sport scientists, for example relating to pain, fatigue and motor control. Findings suggest that placebos and nocebos result in activity of the opioid, endocannabinoid and dopamine neurotransmitter systems, brain regions including the motor cortex and striatum, and measureable effects on the autonomic nervous system. Many studies have demonstrated that placebo and nocebo effects associated with a treatment, for example an inert treatment presented as an analgesic or stimulant, exhibit mechanisms similar or identical to the verum or true treatment. Such findings suggest the possibility of a wide range of distinct placebo and nocebo mechanisms that might influence sports performance. In the present paper, we present some of the findings from neuroscience. Focussing on fatigue as an outcome and caffeine as vehicle, we propose three approaches that researchers in sport might incorporate in their studies in order to better elucidate mechanisms of placebo/nocebo effects on performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Beedie
- School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
- CHX Performance, London, UK
| | - Fabrizio Benedetti
- Medicine and Physiology of Hypoxia, Plateau Rosà, Italy/Switzerland
- Neuroscience Dept, University of Turin Medical School, Turin, Italy
| | - Diletta Barbiani
- Neuroscience Dept, University of Turin Medical School, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Jacob Lindheimer
- Department of Veterans Affairs, William S. Middleton Veterans Memorial Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Bart Roelands
- Department of Human Physiology, Vije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|