Acute Effects of a Combat Sport Environment on Self-Control and Pain Perception Inhibition: A Preliminary Study in a New Ecological Framework

Pietro Luigi Invernizzi, Athos Trecroci, Raffaele Scurati (), Gabriele Signorini, Damiano Formenti, Andrea Bosio, Marta Rigon and Stefano Benedini
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Pietro Luigi Invernizzi: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20129 Milan, Italy
Athos Trecroci: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20129 Milan, Italy
Raffaele Scurati: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20129 Milan, Italy
Gabriele Signorini: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20129 Milan, Italy
Damiano Formenti: Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
Andrea Bosio: Human Performance Laboratory, Mapei Sport, 21057 Olgiate Olona, Italy
Marta Rigon: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20129 Milan, Italy
Stefano Benedini: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20129 Milan, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Intense sports activities affect cognitive, perceptual, and physiological domains, possibly concurring in reducing pain perception and anxiety. Within a framework for a new socio-ecological narrative that considers opposition (such as fighting) and collaboration (cooperative learning) as carriers of self-control and pain perception inhibition, we investigated the acute effects of a judo-specific session on cognitive (inhibitory control and simple reaction time), perceptual (pain and fatigue), affective (anxiety) and physiological (hormone profile) domains. Eleven male black belt judokas (age 39.0 ± 13.9 years; training experience: 23.2 ± 14.4 years) were recruited and tested before and after judo randori and resting sessions. Inhibitory control and simple reaction time were assessed via the Flanker task and clinical reaction time test, pain and fatigue were assessed using Borg’s category-ratio scale (CR-10), and the state–trait anxiety inventory Y-1 test assessed anxiety. Glucose, insulin, cortisol, creatinine, and irisin levels were measured. Cognitive performance, perception of fatigue and physiological variables increased after randori bouts, while pain decreased. Inhibitory control, perception of pain, perception of fatigue and glucose, cortisol, and creatinine significantly differed ( p < 0.05) between randori and resting sessions. A high-intensity randori may induce acute beneficial effects on cognitive, perceptual, and physiological domains. Further studies should compare the results with the outcomes from a collaborative and non-agonist environment and confirm the socio-ecologic framework.

Keywords: cognition; executive functions; physical exercise; open skill; hormone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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