Wrestlers Who “Cut Weight” Before Matches Are Confused

By | April 29, 2011

“To all my little Hulkamaniacs, say your prayers, take your vitamins and you will never go wrong,” Hulk Hogan yelled into Mean Gene Okerlund’s microphone throughout the 80s.

But the man who defeated Andre the Giant never said, “Lose as much weight as you can right before a big match.” That’s what many collegiate and high school wrestlers do days before a competition; thinking it will improve their strength.

It’s called “cutting weight” and a new study says it has no effect on strength, but it does mess with wrestlers’ heads, leaving them confused on the day of the match.

One might contend being slammed to the mat might have something to do with the confusion, but the research, published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, found that wrestlers who “cut” 4% or more of their body mass days before a match had higher levels of confusion on the day of the competition; compared to wrestlers who lost under 4%.

For the study, scientists examined the mental and physical effects of cutting weight in 16 collegiate-level wrestlers. Researchers put the study participants through a series of tests ten days prior to their competition; taking their weight and conducting psychological and strength tests.

Wrestlers were then allowed to select how much weight they wanted to lose before the match. Wrestlers could lose weight one of three ways: exercise, calorie restriction, or fluid deprivation.
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Average weight-loss was 6 pounds, but some wrestlers lost as much as 8% of their body mass. Study participants had 10 days to lose the weight, but researchers report that most of them lost nearly all their weight in the two days prior to the competition.

The researchers challenge the validity of cutting weight, saying body mass reduction had no effect on grip strength or lower body power. The quick weight-loss did not affect any other psychological functions.

Additionally, the researchers warn that cutting weight is a handicap because confusion could hamper in-match decision making.

Written by Gerry Pugliese, health and fitness freelance writer.

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One thought on “Wrestlers Who “Cut Weight” Before Matches Are Confused

  1. pouya

    this is so dumb. the reason we cut weight is to make a specific weight class. we don’t say cutting weight makes you stronger. its the fact that you would go against a weaker guy in a lower weight class that would make you seem stronger. It is obvious that this article was written by someone who was very confused about the topic.

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