Relationships Between Hoffman Reflex Parameters,Trait Stress,and Athletic Performance

Abstract

This study evaluated the relationships between trait stress, Hoffman reflex, and performance among 36 healthy amateur male athletes. We first obtained a trait stress questionnaire from participants and then assigned them to high- and low-stress groups. We next recorded Hoffman reflex data from the soleus and lateral gastrocnemius muscles and then examined their athletic performance on testing protocols separated by a 72-hour washout period. Performance testing utilized vertical jump height, 20 -m sprint time, and standing stork tests. There were significant correlations between (a) the standing stork test, vertical jump height, and trait stress and (b) H_max/M_max ratios, threshold intensity (H_th), the intensity of the H_max, and the intensity of the H_last. H_th, the intensity of H_max, and the intensity of H_last were significantly higher among the low-stress compared with the high-stress participant groups (p < .05), despite participants’ similar training history. We suggest that self-perceived psychological stress affects performance through neural adaptation.