European journal of sport science : EJSS : official journal of the European College of Sport Science
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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. ⋯ 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.
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The aim of this review was to determine the magnitude of the placebo and nocebo effect on sport performance. Articles published before March 2019 were located using Medline, Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCO, Science Direct, and Scopus. Studies that examined placebo and nocebo effects of an objective dependent variable on sports performance, which included a control or baseline condition, were included in the analysis. ⋯ Small to moderate placebo effects were found for both placebo (d = 0.36) and nocebo (d = 0.37) effects and when separated by nutritional (d = 0.35) and mechanical (d = 0.47) ergogenic aids. The pooled effect size revealed a small to moderate effect size across all studies (d = 0.38). Results suggest that placebo and nocebo effects can exert a small to moderate effect on sports performance.
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Gas-collection masks are used as a comfortable alternative to the traditional mouthpiece and noseclip during exercise testing protocols in human performance laboratories. However, these masks may introduce potential problems which could affect metabolic and ventilatory parameters, including gas leaks and added dead space. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare breathing mechanics, gas exchange variables and ratings of perceived breathlessness (RPB) during high-intensity exercise between a mouthpiece and face mask. ⋯ The difference in ⩒E between the mouthpiece (156.8 ± 23.3 L/min) and face mask (153.3 ± 21.8 L/min) was not significant (p = 0.534). Similarly, there were no significant differences in breathing mechanics, gas exchange variables or RPB. These data suggest that the facemask can continue to be used interchangeably with the mouthpiece and may even be a more comfortable alternative during high-intensity exercise.
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This study investigated the effect of a 3-km walking test (3kWT) carrying different military equipment on shooting performance, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR), and test time. The relative combat wear and backpack weight (as percentage of soldier's body weight [%BW]) was reported and, along with HR, its relationship to marksmanship variables was tested. Thirty-nine Spanish Army males walked as fast as possible to complete the 3kWT in the following conditions in a randomized order: unloaded walking; wearing the combat uniform; and carrying the combat uniform plus combat backpack. ⋯ Correlations between HR and shooting variables were non-significant. In conclusion, wearing the Spanish Army combat wear and backpack resulted in shooting performance degradation. Furthermore, fatigue and RPE increased and this could decrease physical marksmanship and performance capacity in combat situations.
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While an increasing number of research is devoted to the understanding of placebo effects in sports, athletes' experiences with and attitudes towards the use of placebo for performance enhancement remain poorly understood. In this study, 79 elite athletes from different sports were surveyed on five issues related to placebo use in sports. Results showed that 47% of the athletes have experienced placebo effects in the past. ⋯ A wider use of placebos in sport settings was endorsed more by those who have experienced placebo effects in the past than those who did not (P = .005). Regardless of past experience with placebo, more than half of the athletes (53%) would accept an unknown but legitimate substance from the coach, and 67% of them would not mind a placebo-linked deception if that was effective. These findings confirm that most elite athletes believe in the power of placebos in enhancing sports performance, and those having a positive past experience exhibit slightly more favourable attitudes in contrast to those without such experiences.