[Podosinovik]

Clenched fist can help us deal with stress, scientists say

A clenched fist may seem like a violent reaction but the action could be enough to deal with anything from pain to temptation, scientists say.

Published: 12:47PM BST 19 Oct 2010



Tim Henman and his familiar fist action Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Tightening muscles helps the mind cope with an array of difficult situations from being given a painful injection to trying to resist a cream cake for dessert, they said.

Whether it is clenching fists, calf muscles or biceps, the act concentrates the mind as it is about to encounter something negative, researchers told the Journal of Consumer Research. A group of volunteers were put through several different experiments from immersing their hands in a bucket of iced water to drinking an unpleasant tonic of water and vinegar.

Other tests included watching emotional footage of children hurt in the Haiti earthquake alongside a form for donating money plus a shopping trip to the local cafeteria. Half the group were told to clench muscles as they took part in the experiments, the other half were not given any instructions.

The joint study by researchers from the University of Singapore and University of Chicago found those tightening muscles reacted more positively in each of the situations. But it only works if they clench a muscle at exactly the point where they are confronted with a "self-control dilemma" suggesting simple exercise beforehand does not count.

The study reported: "Participants who were instructed to tighten their muscles, regardless of which muscles they tightened-hand, finger, calf, or biceps-while trying to exert self-control demonstrated greater ability to withstand the pain, consume the unpleasant medicine, attend to the immediately disturbing but essential information, or overcome tempting foods."

It added: "The mind and the body are so closely tied together, merely clenching muscles can also activate willpower. "Thus simply engaging in these bodily actions, which often result from an exertion of willpower, can serve as a non-conscious source to recruit willpower, facilitate self-control, and improve consumer wellbeing."