Impact of Verbal Suggestions on Finger Flexor Activation and Strength in Healthy Individuals.

Autor: Zaworski K; Department of Physiotherapy, John Paul II University in Biała Podlaska, Biała Podlaska, Poland., Kadłubowska M; Department of Physiotherapy, John Paul II University in Biała Podlaska, Biała Podlaska, Poland., Baj-Korpak J; Department of Physiotherapy, John Paul II University in Biała Podlaska, Biała Podlaska, Poland.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research [Med Sci Monit] 2023 Sep 19; Vol. 29, pp. e941548. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 19.
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.941548
Abstrakt: BACKGROUND Words uttered by other people can have an enormous influence on how we perceive our surroundings, what we expect, what we experience, and how we behave. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of verbal reinforcement on the placebo effect in the context of finger flexor muscle activation measured with surface electromyography (sEMG) and hand grip strength measured with a hand dynamometer in healthy subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighty-eight individuals aged 22.64±5.2 years took part in the study. For each person, paper tape was applied (placebo). The participants were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 groups: positive information group (P) - "the tape increases hand muscle strength", negative information group (N) - "the tape decreases hand muscle strength", and control group (C) - "the effect of the tape on hand muscle strength is unknown." The activation of muscles was assessed using surface electromyography (sEMG) while measuring the strength of wrist and finger flexors with a hand dynamometer. Each participant was examined twice - prior to and immediately after taping and providing verbal reinforcement. RESULTS Only group N manifested a decrease in muscle strength, from 39.7N to 37.6N (P=0.003). Group C displayed an increase in muscle strength from 34.3N to 36.4N (P=0.035). None of the groups demonstrated statistically significant changes in bioelectrical activity of the muscles. At no stage of examination were the differences between the groups significant. CONCLUSIONS Negative verbal information combined with the placebo intervention resulted in a significant decrease in the strength of finger flexors.
Databáze: MEDLINE