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Why do I moan when I bend over?
Aug
You never think it’s going to happen to you. And then suddenly you’re middle-aged and you start groaning when you pick something up off the floor or groaning when you get up from a chair.
Why do we do this? Is it a sign that we are aging rapidly? Or is it just one of those things that comes with middle age, like reading glasses, graying hair, and “daddy jokes”?
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As far as I could determine, there have been no specific studies explaining why vigorous older adults groan or groan during physical exertion during daily activities.
But exercise-related sounds are common across age groups and activities, as anyone who has watched cricket, boxing, and especially tennis knows. Think Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal.
Instead, we can look at the evidence behind what’s behind grunting in sports or training.
We stiffen the body, hold our breath, and then slowly release it.
When we lift something relatively bulky, make quick movements (like hitting a tennis ball), or even stand up from a sitting position, we stiffen our torso. This stabilizes our entire body.
If we were too relaxed, we would become limp, lose our balance, and risk falling.
So we fill our lungs by inhaling and tightening our core muscles to stabilize our spine. We throw our arms forward to provide momentum and with that effort we hold our breath to maintain that stability as we stand.
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Then we release the breath slowly or quickly, depending on the nature of the task. In swift (or ballistic) movements, such as throwing a ball or punching a boxer, we release the breath quickly. In ponderous movements, such as lifting a barbell or getting up from the couch, we release it slowly. If the muscles that move the vocal cords are activated, we make a sound.
The result is a grunting or groaning sound, like something you might hear at a gym. Or at least you would if it weren’t for the deafening music.
Does grunting facilitate us move, strike, or lift?
The evidence on whether grunting helps us move, strike, or lift is mixed.
According to a 20-year study, grunting does not help weightlifters lift heavier weights. They lifted the same amount in “deadlift“whether they cleared their throats or not.
However, in a 2011 study, screaming helped martial artists to catch with greater force.
In a 2014 study, tennis players stronger serves and forehand strokes when they were allowed to clear their throats compared to when they were told to remain hushed.
Read more: All About the Racquet: What Science Tells Us About the Pros and Cons of Groaning in Tennis
So it appears that whether grunting or other vocalizations facilitate to complete a task depends on the type of task.
Still, tennis player Roger Federer (who doesn’t complain) seems to do very well without this impact sound amplification.
What does this mean for everyday activities?
It’s not clear what all this means for grunting during everyday activities. What is clear is that the grunts athletes make during quick, ballistic movements are different from the sounds we make when working out at the gym or getting up from a chair.
We may be more likely to make these sounds if we are tired or exhausted. And if someone he thinks the task will be difficultthey may be more inclined to grunt or vocalize. So then they’re most likely holding their breath to try to provide momentum and stability for the task at hand and then release it.
Although no studies have been done on the phenomenon, as far as I can tell, grunting during exercise seems to be habitual. These sounds are likely learned behaviors that we copy from friends and relatives and start doing without realizing it. So you can decide not to groan the next time you get up from the couch.
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