Athletes no longer have to abstain from intimacy before competitions. A new study has shown that sexual activity before intense physical activity does not impair athletic performance and sometimes even improves it, reports Medical Xpress.
Scientists observed 21 highly trained male athletes aged 18 to 25, all of whom compete at the highest level in various sports, from basketball and marathon running to judo. The study's aim was to compare the athletes' strength, endurance, muscle damage, and overall fitness in two situations: after an orgasm induced by masturbation and after seven days of abstinence from sexual activity.
There's a long-standing popular belief about the harm of sex before important competitions. Many coaches advise their athletes to avoid intimacy the day before competitions, believing it can weaken their energy and focus. Modern scientific research shows the opposite: regular sex is beneficial for overall physical health and well-being, and proper training improves the quality of one's sex life.
A new study has found that sexual activity before exercise does not harm strength or endurance in male athletes.
A specially designed experiment showed that participants who engaged in sexual activity before exercise performed better than those who had abstained for a long time. Each athlete underwent a maximum handgrip strength test and a stationary bike workout, gradually increasing intensity until complete exhaustion. The scientists then analyzed hormones, muscle condition, and inflammatory responses.
The data confirmed that prior sexual activity does not harm the body and even has several benefits. Specifically, after sexual activity, the athletes exercised 3.2% longer and demonstrated slightly higher grip strength. Sexual activity appeared to act as a natural warm-up for the nervous system, causing a slight, short-term increase in heart rate, testosterone, and cortisol levels. It did not alter inflammation markers, but did lead to a partial reduction in muscle tension.
The study's findings confirm that abstaining from sexual intercourse before competition is not justified. Further studies are planned involving women and athletes older than middle age to expand the applicability of the findings.