Workout-Life Balance: How Psychological Stress Affects Force Production in Competitive Powerlifters and Healthy Controls

Document Type

Conference Presentation

Department

Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Department

Conference Title

American College of Sports Medicine - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise conference

Organization

American College of Sports Medicine

Location

Orlando, FL

Date of Presentation

5-29-2019

Journal Publication

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

ISSN

0195-9131

DOI

10.1249/01.mss.0000560632.16251.21

Volume

51

Issue

6S

First Page

47

Abstract

Powerlifters often focus more on physiological stresses of programming and performance than psychological stress. However, total allostatic load could influence the capacity to generate force. Understanding this relationship can give coaches and athletes tools to optimize workout-life balance. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of psychological stress on force production in distinct populations. METHODS: Competitive powerlifters (PL) and recreationally active college students (RA) were tested. The RA group consisted of 10 men and 13 who performed knee extension and flexion at 2 time points using a Cybex dynamometer: Once during an academic respite and once during exams. Psychological stress was assessed with a 10-Point Cohen Perceived Stress Scale Questionnaire. Linear regression measured the effect of psychological stress on peak force. The PL group consisted of 26 men and 8 women competing in the 2018 USAPL Raw Nationals. The day before the competition, all athletes were interviewed; peak and expected performances and 10-point stress were recorded. Linear regression tested the effect of stress on the difference between expected and achieved performances. RESULTS: In the RA group, between the 2 time points, men produced 257.5 ± 68.9 ft-lbs of torque for flexors and extensors summed; women produced 213.5 ± 26.6 ft-lbs (p=0.082). Holding bodyweight constant, stress did not affect peak torque at time point 1 (p=0.217) or 2 (p=0.506), and change in stress did not affect change in force output (p=0.640). Sex was insignificant in all analyses and no relationships emerged when evaluating flexors or extensors separately. In the PL group, the summation of bench press, squat, and deadlift was 625.4 ± 74.4 kg in men and 377.8 ± 79.5 kg in women (p < 0.001). In the regression analysis (R2=0.325; p=0.003), holding weight class constant, the deficit precipitated by psychological stress was 3.4 kg per point (p=0.006; 95% CI: -5.69 to -1.06). Results were stronger for women (R2=0.824; p=0.013); holding weight class (p = 0.032) constant, each additional point of stress predicted a 4.8 kg reduction in performance (p=0.005; 95% CI: -7.43 to -2.27). CONCLUSION: Psychological stress does not impair strength performance among untrained individuals. However, stress management may be critical for strength athletes, particularly women.

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