Does verbal encouragement work? The effect of verbal encouragement on a muscular endurance task

Abstract

Verbal encouragement (VE) is commonly used to encourage patients to perform to their maximum potential during exercise sessions or for various assessment procedures. This controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of VE during a motor endurance performance. Subjects in the experimental ( n = 32) and control group ( n = 26) performed two trials of a leg-holding task, one on each leg. The control group were simply timed, while the experimental group performed one trial in the manner of the control group and one where they were verbally encouraged. These subjects thus acted as their own control. Results of a MANOVA showed that the size of effect was different between the two leg-holding trials depending upon the group ( F(1,50) = 12.59, p < 0.001). Verbal encouragement significantly increased performance compared to the control group by 39% and by 33.5% compared to the subject's own control trial. Results are discussed in terms of the previous literature and suggestions are made for future investigations.