Most gymgoers will try just about anything to boost workout performance—”dry-scooping” pre-workout, snorting ammonia, or taking a hefty slap on the back from a training partner are all common practices.

But according to a 2024 review published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, there’s another, simpler option you might not have considered: swearing.

The review found that a well-timed expletive can significantly improve strength and endurance. When people were potty-mouthed, they improved their grip strength by almost 10%, endure wall sits 22% longer, and manage 15% more push-ups than when they were more polite. 

Why does cursing work?

There are several theories:

  1. It triggers your fight-or-flight response, raising heart rate and adrenaline levels. This physiological “arousal” sharpens focus and preps your body to push harder.
  2. It increases pain tolerance, dulling the discomfort that might otherwise force you to stop.
  3. It activates the amygdala—the brain’s motivation center—amplifying drive and effort so you can train with greater intensity. 
  4. It may help you enter a “flow state,” where you focus completely on the task at hand and push past barriers that might otherwise hold you back.

Crucially, you don’t have to scream profanities to reap the benefit—saying, whispering, or mentally reciting them is likely just as effective. 

There’s also no exact formula for when or how to swear. Some people let it out before a set to psych themselves up, while others curse mid-rep to push through a sticking point.

The key is choosing a word that feels natural and using it when it matters most.