BACKGROUND:

Although the common practice of verbal encouragement is scientifically supported, its effect on the maintenance of force output in fatiguing exertions is unknown.

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the effects of verbal encouragement on exercise-induced quadriceps and knee joint function during three sets of knee extension exercise.

METHODS:

Sixty-five healthy males (23.3 years, 175.8 cm, 75.3 kg) underwent testing using the administration of verbal encouragement (n= 32) or not (n= 33) during assessment of quadriceps and knee joint function. Assessments were performed at baseline and times 1, 2, and 3. The knee concentric isokinetic extension at 60∘/s, was performed between the time points. For quadriceps function, maximal isometric strength and activation (central activation ratio) were recorded. Absolute error values on knee flexion replications at 15∘ or 45∘ were recorded for knee joint function.

RESULTS:

There was no verbal encouragement effect over three sets of exercise in quadriceps strength (condition× time: F 3, 189= 1.71, p= 0.17) and knee flexion replication (condition× time for 15∘: F 3, 189= 0.11, p= 0.96; 45∘: F 3, 189= 0.63, p= 0.6). However, subjects who had received verbal encouragement maintained quadriceps activation (condition× time: F 3, 189= 5.49, p= 0.001). Specifically, quadriceps activation in the verbal condition was 3.0% higher at time 2 (p= 0.01) and 4.7% higher at time 3 (p= 0.0003) versus in the non-verbal condition.

CONCLUSIONS:

Verbal encouragement appears to be effective in maintaining central activation, but is insufficient for promoting strength. This supports the idea that peripheral contributing factors play a larger role in force production when performing multiple sets of exercises.