Would you be willing to endure some social sneers if it meant increasing your pain tolerance by 20% and your athletic performance by 8%? According to research, swearing every few seconds during physical exertion can do just that. But this isn’t just about amusing scientific studies—it’s a powerful window into what we’re truly capable of.

In episode #32 of the Live Long & Well podcast, I explored how swearing impacts physical performance, why grunting in sports has long been accepted, and what these findings tell us about our untapped potential. The science is fascinating, the findings are unexpected, and—most importantly—it reinforces the idea that we are stronger than we think.

Grunting and Performance: The Gateway to Swearing

Before diving into swearing, let’s start with something more socially acceptable—grunting. If you’ve ever watched professional tennis, you’ve likely heard it. Maria Sharapova’s grunts reached 100 decibels, Serena Williams was known for it, and Jimmy Connors helped popularize it decades ago. But beyond being a quirk of elite athletes, grunting has been shown to actually improve performance.

In a study of 32 collegiate tennis players, researchers found that when players grunted during serves and forehand strokes, ball velocity increased by 5% and muscle force output rose by 20% (source). Another study looked at 30 young men and women performing a two-second maximum effort hand grip. Simply exhaling increased grip strength by 11%, but grunting improved it by a staggering 25% (source).

However, not all strength-based exercises benefit from grunting. A separate study on deadlifts found no significant impact on force output (source). So while grunting can help in some situations, it doesn’t translate across all forms of exertion.