Perception of effort, not muscle fatigue, limits endurance performance

[HerbM]

Perception of effort, not muscle fatigue, limits endurance performance Perception of effort, not muscle fatigue, limits endurance performance

As recently as 2008, scientific research papers were citing the theory that endurance performance is limited by the capacity of the skeletal muscles, heart and lungs and that exhaustion occurs when the active muscles are unable to produce the force or power required by prolonged exercise.

Dr Sam Marcora, an exercise physiologist at Bangor University, has now disproved this for the first time and proposed an alternative - that it is your perception of effort that limits your endurance performance, not the actual capability of your muscles. He showed that the muscles were still able to achieve the power output required by endurance exercise even when the point of perceived exhaustion had been reached.


This will inevitably lead to new training and coaching techniques, based on this new understanding of the role of perceived effort in endurance performance.

There is more worth reading both at PhysOrg and in the offered links to the original paper -- even if many advanced trainers and athletes know this already it is good to get the science....

Actual paper:
The limit to exercise tolerance in humans: mind over muscle?
SpringerLink - Journal Article The full text does not appear to be available for free.

Personal note: I am thinking specifically of boxing of course, and examples such as hard, fast jabs over and over (and over....)

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HerbM

[Jacumba Hooker]

It would be interesting to read the whole article, but from what is mentioned in the abstract it appears that they tested aerobic endurance such as would be seen in jogging or cylcling.

Boxing (amateur) is about 20/80 aerobic/anaerobic and would probably not be relevent to the findings due to the different energy systems used.

[HerbM]

20/80 -- is that because AMATEUR bouts are so short, both per round and number of rounds?

Seems like a pro fight going 6 rounds or more would be similar endurance to a long run or bicycle race...

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HerbM

[Scrap]

Thought the same thing for years, its all about Feel.

[Jacumba Hooker]

20/80 -- is that because AMATEUR bouts are so short, both per round and number of rounds?

Seems like a pro fight going 6 rounds or more would be similar endurance to a long run or bicycle race...

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HerbM

The explosive movements in boxing - i.e. attacking/defending footwork and punching - are the anaerobic element. With a decreased amount of time to 'get the job done' (in the amateurs) there are more of these explosive actions in a shorter time period. Professional boxing is still highly anaerobic, but the anaerobic elements are spread out over a longer period (either longer rounds or more rounds).

Long-steady runs for amateur boxing in particular are not really neccessary as they do not reflect the nature of the sport. Just as the tests conducted in 'mind over matter' hypothesis posted above. Steady-state aerobic work is relevent to steady-state aerobic sport. Swimming to swimming and boxing to boxing.

The psychology invovled still holds true to an extent though. I have an amateur boxer who is extremely fit (as determined by HR recovery etc.) and can blast through training (with effort) every time. But put him in the ring and after the first round he doubts his fitness; things tighten up (mentaly then physically) then every effort he makes takes twice the energy and he becomes fatigued very quickly.

I have another boxer who is fit, but no where near as fit as the first guy (but is in good shape) and he can do three or four rounds of competetive boxing standing on his head (and a dozen rounds of sparring). Part of it is probably due to the fact that he thinks he can. Part is probably due to the fact that he is very relaxed in the ring. He moves with greater fluidity and rarely seems to be flustered.

The people in the experiment may well have been endurance athletes - if that was the case then there was a kind of level playing field to start with. Anyone with a greater degree of 'mental toughness' would undoubtedly have the abilty to keep going when the pain set in - providing of course that the work is still aerobic. Once anaerobic elements come into play no amount of mental toughness is going to keep you going (past a certain point).

While the physical elements of amateur boxing may be 20/80 aerobic/anaerobic the physical/mental aspect is probably about the same.

[Scrap]

Been experimenting in this kind of field for some time. Its a very interesting Field, Gravity and the concept of Feel and touch ie Impact. I can tell you now there has been a Breakthrough.

[HerbM]

Been experimenting in this kind of field for some time. Its a very interesting Field, Gravity and the concept of Feel and touch ie Impact. I can tell you now there has been a Breakthrough.

I love breakthroughs, and all of your posts Scrap, so please share....

[AdamGB]

20/80 -- is that because AMATEUR bouts are so short, both per round and number of rounds?

Seems like a pro fight going 6 rounds or more would be similar endurance to a long run or bicycle race...

--
HerbM

The explosive movements in boxing - i.e. attacking/defending footwork and punching - are the anaerobic element. With a decreased amount of time to 'get the job done' (in the amateurs) there are more of these explosive actions in a shorter time period. Professional boxing is still highly anaerobic, but the anaerobic elements are spread out over a longer period (either longer rounds or more rounds).

Long-steady runs for amateur boxing in particular are not really neccessary as they do not reflect the nature of the sport. Just as the tests conducted in 'mind over matter' hypothesis posted above. Steady-state aerobic work is relevent to steady-state aerobic sport. Swimming to swimming and boxing to boxing.

The psychology invovled still holds true to an extent though. I have an amateur boxer who is extremely fit (as determined by HR recovery etc.) and can blast through training (with effort) every time. But put him in the ring and after the first round he doubts his fitness; things tighten up (mentaly then physically) then every effort he makes takes twice the energy and he becomes fatigued very quickly.

I have another boxer who is fit, but no where near as fit as the first guy (but is in good shape) and he can do three or four rounds of competetive boxing standing on his head (and a dozen rounds of sparring). Part of it is probably due to the fact that he thinks he can. Part is probably due to the fact that he is very relaxed in the ring. He moves with greater fluidity and rarely seems to be flustered.

The people in the experiment may well have been endurance athletes - if that was the case then there was a kind of level playing field to start with. Anyone with a greater degree of 'mental toughness' would undoubtedly have the abilty to keep going when the pain set in - providing of course that the work is still aerobic. Once anaerobic elements come into play no amount of mental toughness is going to keep you going (past a certain point).

While the physical elements of amateur boxing may be 20/80 aerobic/anaerobic the physical/mental aspect is probably about the same.

Great post, welcome.