Maximal strength and cortisol responses to psyching-up during the squat exercise

McGuigan, M. R., Ghiagiarelli, J., Tod, D. (2005). Maximal strength and cortisol responses to psyching-up during the squat exercise. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23 (7), 687-692. RAE2008

We studied the effect of psyching-up on one-repetition maximum (1-RM) performance and salivary cortisol responses during the squat exercise. Ten men (age 21.6???1.4 years; mean???s) and ten women (age 22.4???2.8 years) with weight training experience of 4.5???2.0 years participated in this study. One-repetition maximum squats were performed on a Smith machine during each of two different intervention conditions that were counterbalanced and consisted of a free choice psych-up and a cognitive distraction. Saliva samples were obtained at the beginning of each test session and immediately after the final 1-RM attempt. No significant difference in 1-RM was identified between psyching-up (104???50 kg) and cognitive distraction (106???52 kg). Performing a 1-RM in the squat exercise significantly increased salivary cortisol concentrations during both conditions (P ?

Peer reviewed