The Effectiveness of “Progressive Muscle Relaxation” on Competitive State Anxiety and Salivary Cortisol of Elite Male Taekwondo Practitioners

In competitive sports, athletes may experience impaired mental and physical function due to experiencing a series of negative emotions. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of "Progressive Muscle Relaxation" on Competitive State Anxiety and salivary cortisol of elite male taekwondo practitioners. 

The present study is a quasi-experimental study with pre-test-post-test design. The statistical population of this study was 30 elite male taekwondo practitioners in Tehran province who were selected by convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups of control (16 people) and intervention (13 people). Data collection instruments included demographic questionnaire, "Competitive State Anxiety Inventory" and 96 test kits of the German company ZellBio with a sensitivity of 1 ng / ml for saliva sampling and cortisol measurement. The validity of the mentioned list was evaluated using concurrent validity method and reliability by internal consistency method by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient. In the pre-test phase (first race), 25 minutes before the start of the competition, all 30 people of saliva samples were first taken to measure cortisol, and all of them completed the "Competitive Anxiety Inventory". The intervention group then performed 10 sessions of "Progressive Muscle Relaxation” with taekwondo physical training, while the control group performed only taekwondo movements and physical exercises. After completing 10 sessions of post-test training, in the second competition, the athletes completed the "Competitive Anxiety Inventory” for the second time 25 minutes before the competition, and saliva samples were taken from all of them to measure cortisol. Data analysis was used in SPSS. 22.

Cognitive anxiety (F=81.35, P<0.001) and physical anxiety (F=41.52, P<0.001) decreased in the intervention group compared to the control group. Also, the amount of salivary cortisol (F=29.92, P<0.001) in the intervention group was significantly reduced compared to the control group in the post-test.

"Progressive Muscle Relaxation” reduced cognitive anxiety, physical anxiety, and salivary cortisol. It is suggested that sedation be used to reduce Competitive State Anxiety and salivary cortisol.